Outgoing representative to the EU Chen Chien-jen (
Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) confirmed a few days ago that Chen would retire from his post soon, but did not disclose the name of his successor.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂) has been tipped as Chen's replacement, according to media reports.
Delayed retirement
Chen told the Central News Agency that he had planned to retire in 2000 and again in 2004, but opted to prioritize national interests over his personal plans after President Chen Shui-bian (
"There was a feeling of regret in my heart that I could not live a carefree life," Chen Chien-jen said.
"This feeling will be made up for now that my public service career will soon come to an end," he said.
The diplomat, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party(KMT) who previously served as minister of foreign affairs when the party was in power, was appointed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government as the country's representative to the US in 2000.
He had intended to retire when he stepped down from that post in 2004, but later accepted the appointment of EU representative.
On the most unforgettable event of his foreign service career, Chen Chien-jen said it would be hard for him to forget the process of bilateral talks with the US government after the severance of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the US.
However, being able to participate in the establishment of diplomatic relations with Nicaragua and Palau were pleasant experiences, he went on.
WHO participation
As for the government's bids to participate in the WHO, Chen noted that the idea was first put forward 10 years ago when he was vice minister of foreign affairs.
With Taiwan's efforts over the past 10 years and the importance of including Taiwan in the WHO having been highlighted by the outbreaks of SARS and bird flu, there should be progress this year in promoting the bid, Chen Chien-jen predicted.
Chen said he was thinking about writing his memoirs and releasing a CD that he recorded in the 1990s of him singing Mandarin, Taiwanese and English songs.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taiwanese officials are courting podcasters and influencers aligned with US President Donald Trump as they grow more worried the US leader could undermine Taiwanese interests in talks with China, people familiar with the matter said. Trump has said Taiwan would likely be on the agenda when he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) next week in a bid to resolve persistent trade tensions. China has asked the White House to officially declare it “opposes” Taiwanese independence, Bloomberg reported last month, a concession that would mark a major diplomatic win for Beijing. President William Lai (賴清德) and his top officials
The German city of Hamburg on Oct. 14 named a bridge “Kaohsiung-Brucke” after the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. The footbridge, formerly known as F566, is to the east of the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district, and connects the Dar-es-Salaam-Platz to the Brooktorpromenade near the Port of Hamburg on the Elbe River. Timo Fischer, a Free Democratic Party member of the Hamburg-Mitte District Assembly, in May last year proposed the name change with support from members of the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union. Kaohsiung and Hamburg in 1999 inked a sister city agreement, but despite more than a quarter-century of
RSS