President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said that the new Cabinet would proactively carry out its duties in the remaining four months of his term and would not “merely be a passive caretaker.”
Cabinet members would also provide assistance to their successors to ensure a smooth transition of power, Ma said at a swearing-in ceremony for Premier Simon Chang (張善政) and his Cabinet members.
Ma cited three examples of proactive governance during the transition period.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
First, the National Financial Stabilization Fund has been supporting share prices in the volatile stock market since the Jan. 16 presidential and legislative elections, Ma said.
“We did not slack off just because the Cabinet resigned,” he said.
Second, he and then-acting premier Chang went to Miaoli and Tainan respectively to inspect agricultural losses in the wake of an unusual cold spell that hit Taiwan late last month, Ma said.
Third, he said he visited Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in the South China Sea on Thursday last week and proposed a road map for his South China Sea peace initiative.
Chang replaced former premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國), who tendered his resignation after the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) defeat in the presidential and legislative elections.
There were only minor changes to the Cabinet, including former National Development Council minister Woody Duh (杜紫軍), who has filled the vice premier post left by Chang.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉) succeeded Duh.
Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) vice chairwoman Jennifer Wang (王儷玲) replaced FSC chairman Tseng Ming-chung (曾銘宗), who was sworn in yesterday as a legislator-at-large.
The Council of Agriculture (COA) is now headed by Chen Tze-ching (陳志清), who was promoted from vice minister, as COA minister Chen Bao-ji (陳保基) returned to teaching at National Taiwan University.
President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the Democratic Progressive Party is scheduled to take office on May 20, becoming the nation’s first female president.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS