Age will be one of the determining factors in future appointments of diplomats, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) said, after lawmakers expressed concerns over the average age of the nation’s diplomats.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) said the average age of the representatives in Taiwan’s 116 embassies around the world is 59, adding that diplomatic work might be too much for them.
Half of the nation’s representatives at foreign embassies are more than 60 years old, Liu said, adding that some of them are older than President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) — who turns 60 in August — and might be physically unfit for the demanding work required of diplomats.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs statistics show of the 116 representatives only two are under the age of 49, while 20 are between 50 and 54 years old, 35 are between 55 and 59 years old and 48 are between 60 and 64 years old with 11 over the age of 65.
Liu said that the Cabinet has been criticized as being “too old, too male and too blue [with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) background],” and the criticism could be likewise directed against the ministry.
Serving overseas is a test of physical fitness and capability, and while laborers in general are filing for retirement when they turn 65, our diplomats are still working abroad, Liu said, adding that as many of them are older than the president, they might not be able to “walk fast enough” when the work of presidential diplomacy is assigned.
Lee said he was 46 when he served as the head of the ministry’s Department of North American Affairs and 49 when he became the deputy minister of the ministry.
Former minister of foreign affairs Jason Hu (胡志強) was 50 when he took the post, Lee added.
“During the term of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), the diplomats were younger, and in developed nations, distinguished diplomats would get promoted,” he said.
David Lee said civil officials retire when they turn 65, adding that he would seriously review the representative appointing process from now on based on the president’s call for younger government officials.
However, if they are physically fit, keeping up with the times and passionate about the work, they would still be considered, David Lee said, adding that the ministry would put forward measures to lower the average age of diplomats.
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