President Chen Shui-bian (
"The vice premier has not yet changed his mind about leaving the civil sector after the presidential inauguration, despite discussing the matter with the president [on Monday], who had hoped to persuade him to stay on," Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (
Lin Chia-lung also dismissed speculation that Lin Hsin-i, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, is considering relocating to China and developing a business career there.
"It's not only totally untrue, but also a serious mistake," Lin said. "The vice premier doesn't have the slightest intention of breaking the law to pursue a career in China."
According to the Civil Servant Service Law (
Lin Hsin-i, the first entrepreneur to become a Cabinet official in the nation's history, tendered his resignation last Tuesday. He also expressed his wish to return to the private sector after the presidential inauguration.
A favorite to succeed Lin Hsin-i is Council for Hakka Affairs Chairwoman Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭). If Yeh was to take over the vice premier's position, Lin Hsin-i's job at the Council for Economic Planning and Development might be given to another person with a background in economics or finance. Speculation was rife that Minister-without-Portfolio Hu Sheng-cheng (胡勝正) was the leading candidate to take up the position.
Lin Chia-lung yesterday, however, dismissed such speculation, saying that the new Cabinet line-up would not be finalized until after the premier led Cabinet officials in resigning en masse on either May 5 or May 12.
In accordance with the Constitution, the entire Executive Yuan must resign before the new president is inaugurated. Chen is scheduled to be sworn in for his second four-year term on May 20.
As for the future of Cabinet Secretary-General Liu Shih-fang (
"Although she met with the premier [Monday] and [yesterday], they failed to touch on the matter," he said. "Communication about the matter -- as well as others -- between her and the premier has not stopped and will continue."
Liu has tendered her resignation, saying she wishes to advance her studies.
Lin Chia-lung yesterday also brushed aside a media report that the Cabinet has agreed to open up the first-stage investment policies for businesses based in China after the presidential inauguration.
He said that the Mainland Affairs Council and Ministry of Finance are still evaluating the possibility of opening up the local investment market in three stages, and will make public the final decision as they come to a consensus.
To honor Chen's pledge to allow the issuance of sports lotteries, Lin Chia-lung said that the premier yesterday requested that the government agencies concerned study the proposal and hammer out concrete measures.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost