Former minister of national defense Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) has been appointed Veterans Affairs Council minister, Cabinet spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka announced yesterday.
Feng fills the vacancy left by Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正), Kolas said.
Chiu was appointed National Security Bureau (NSB) director-general following former bureau head Peng Sheng-chu’s (彭勝竹) resignation last month over a cigarette smuggling scandal.
Several bureau officials have been accused of trying to smuggle more than 10,000 cartons of cigarettes into Taiwan as President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) returned home from an overseas state visit on July 22.
Feng is the chairman of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, the nation’s first defense think tank, and served as minister of national defense from 2016 to last year.
Feng is a retired lieutenant general and a decorated officer who has served in top posts in the military, including deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and commander of the Air Force Combatant Command.
He was also chairman of the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp from 2006 to 2008.
Feng is equally familiar with the defense industry and defense technology, Kolas said.
Also, he is adept at business management and has experience promoting international military exchanges, she said, adding that the government hopes he will help enhance international military and veterans’ exchanges.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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