Speculation intensified after former minister of finance Lin Chuan (林全), long rumored to be president-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) choice for premier in her incoming administration, was included in Tsai’s transition team on Monday.
Lin, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and former DPP secretary-general Lin Hsi-yao (林錫耀) were appointed by Tsai to serve as coconveners of her transition team that is to handle the transfer of power from the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Of the three, Wu’s counterpart is to be Presidential Office Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), and Wu called Tseng to arrange a time line for the transition from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government to a DPP government.
Wu, whose expertise includes relations with the US and China, has been rumored to be earmarked to be the next head of the National Security Council.
He could also be named Presidential Office secretary-general or minister of foreign affairs, pundits said.
Due to his experience with government finances, Lin is seen by many as a likely choice for the premiership, although rumors indicate he is “not very interested” in the top executive job.
DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), who was part of one transition team, said all three coconveners have extensive experience in government service and know how each government department works well, “so they should be able to make the transition very smooth.”
Still, the DPP has called for new legislation to “institutionalize” the transfer of power after a general election, Chen said.
Chen added that there was no “absolute” relationship between the transition team and future personnel appointments, which he said are up to the president.
Other DPP insiders pointed to precedents to counter Chen’s “no relationship” comment, including the 2000 transition team of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
One coconvener of Chen Shui-bian’s transition team, Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), was later appointed premier, one insider said, adding that “key members in the transition team usually take important jobs in the new administration.”
“It will not be that once you have participated in taking over the government, you leave. This is not the case,” the source said.
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had