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Chen following a `blue ocean strategy': Lu

"[The president's announcement] made it clear how sincere he is to push reform and meet the public's expectations."

Su Tseng-chang, premier

President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) decision to relinquish some of his powers is a "blue ocean" strategy aimed at creating a new way of shaping the future, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday.

"Power brings with it responsibility. All Cabinet and [Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)] members must from now on be ready to take up their responsibilities," she said. "It is the president's `blue ocean' strategy to delegate power to the Cabinet and party members."

The "Blue Ocean Strategy" is the subject of a book written by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne. Kim and Mauborgne argue that cutthroat competition results in nothing but a bloody, red ocean of rivals fighting over a shrinking profit pool.

The authors advocate the idea of "winning by not competing," or achieving lasting success not by battling competitors, but by creating "blue oceans": untapped sectors ripe for growth.

Kim and Mauborgne claim that strategic moves of this nature -- which they call "value innovation" -- create powerful leaps in value that often render rivals obsolete for more than a decade.

Lu made the remarks after addressing an international conference on medical equipment in Taipei. She was responding to the announcement that Chen made late on Wednesday night.

Chen said he would relinquish party responsibilities and focus solely on doing his job as the president, leaving it to ranking Cabinet and DPP members to make their own calls on other matters.

In other words, all Cabinet-related matters, including nominations of Cabinet personnel, would from now on be in the hands of Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).

Chen will also no longer participate in the DPP's internal affairs, nor campaign on behalf of party members running for public office.

Chen's decision has received mixed reactions from party members and opposition parties.

Some have criticized the move as a political gamble undertaken to divert public attention away from a recent spate of scandals plaguing the president's family and close aides.

Others have interpreted Chen's decision as a strategic attempt to address his flagging popularity.

When asked how she defines her own position in the wake of the announcement, Lu said that while Chen remained the head of state, she was "still the vice president until 2008."

Lu also dismissed a report in yesterday's Chinese-language China Times newspaper, which claimed that Chen was unhappy about her secretly organizing a meeting with opposition parties.

Lu said she had informed Chen about her actions and that he was not unhappy about them.

Meanwhile, Presidential Office Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) said yesterday that he did not think the president had become a "lame duck."

He confirmed that there would soon be a personnel reshuffle, but refused to disclose any details.

On Wednesday, executive member of the Taipei Society Hong Yu-hung (洪裕宏) requested four Cabinet officials who enjoy close relations with the president step down to help improve the DPP's image.

The four in question are Deputy Presidential Secretary-General Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成), Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝), Minister of Finance Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that despite being part of the Executive Yuan, it would continue to take directives from the president.

The Constitution does not specify that it is the president's duty to set foreign policies, but the National Security Council Organization Law (國家安全會議組織法) stipulates that the head of state can consult with the National Security Council to form policies concerning national security.

Such policies cover the areas of defense, foreign affairs, cross-strait and major national disasters.

During a visit by the premier to the legislature yesterday, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said: "I would like to congratulate [the premier] on obtaining real administrative power. I believe that [Su] can now put his skills to good use and play a decisive role in politics."

Su was low-key in response, saying the president had given the Cabinet greater responsibilities.

"[The president's announcement] made it clear how sincere he is to push reform and meet the public's expectations," Su said.
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