Major strides were taken yesterday in the formation of the structure of Taiwan's future Cabinet by the confirmation of two new key figures, and the leaking of the names of several more likely nominees -- such as senior presidential advisor Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) and international trade negotiator Tsai Ying-wen (蔡英文).
Officially, Premier-designate Tang Fei (
The two join vice defense minister Wu Shih-wen (伍世文), named new defense minister three days ago, as members of the new Cabinet who have been officially confirmed by Tang.
Other names, however, also emerged yesterday -- some coming as quite a surprise.
At the top of the list of possible nominees was president and chairman of the Institute for National Policy Research Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), tipped to take over as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Tien reportedly met with senior scholars and policymakers in the US while on a two-week trip to the US after the election, and has since reported his findings to Chen.
Another surprise as a possible nominee was National Chengchi University International Trade scholar Tsai Ying-wen (蔡英文), expected to head the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
Chairman of the East Sun Bank (玉山銀行) Lin Jong-shong (林鐘雄), meanwhile, appears headed for the Ministry of Finance, while vice chairman of the China Motors Corporation Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) is tipped as the next Minister of Economic Affairs.
Sources also told the Taipei Times that Vice president-elect Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) has informed Chen Chu (陳菊), the director of the Kaohsiung city government's Social Affairs bureau, that she will be invited to be the chairperson of the Council of Labor Affairs (CAL).
Meanwhile, President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) announced yesterday that the new Cabinet will have at least three female ministers.
Tsai Ying-wen specializes in international trade law. She has been an important advisor who was relied on by the government in international negotiations over Taiwan's joining the GATT and WTO, as well as representing Taiwan at APEC meetings.
Tien Hung-mao has long been a significant advisor to President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). As an expert in international politics, his academic reputation and good relations with Washington are seen as second to none. He also has a long history and ties with the DPP.
"His creativity and profound understanding of Taiwan's politics are what diplomats in Taiwan generally lack. And these are what the new government desperately needs," said one senior political observer.
Incumbent DPP secretary-general Yu Shyi-kun has been seen to have Chen's ear. Following the appointment of Tang, a KMT member, as the premier, the nomination of Yu received little dispute.
Yu is an experienced politician. He served two-terms as a Taiwan provincial assemblyman; two terms as Ilan county commissioner; and was chairman of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.
Yu's achievements during his term as Ilan commissioner were widely praised and his acceptability crosses party boundaries. Vice president Lien Chan (連戰), when serving as premier, invited him to take the post of Transportation Minister but he declined.
As well as being experienced in administrative work, Yu has a good knowledge of dealing with factions in the DPP, while managing to stay out of such factions himself. These are important factors in explaining why Chen chose him, according a close aide to Chen.
Economist Wea Chi-lin, meanwhile, has also long kept good relations with the DPP and has, in the past, participated in the DPP's economic policy development.
His first entry into the Cabinet was in 1997 when he was invited by Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) to be Director General of the Central Personnel Administration.
Tang Fei has proposed that Wea remain in the Executive Yuan, a move that is significant for maintaining continuity during the power transition.
Tang also expressed the hope yesterday that current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chen Chien-jen (程建人), would serve as Taiwan's representative to the US.
Tang made the remark after a dinner with a group of DPP lawmakers, saying "no one could be more suitable than Chen to be our representative to Washington."
He added, however, that he and Chen Shui-bian have yet to ask Chen about the posting.
Tang also told reporters last night that originally, the complete name list for the Cabinet had been expected to be made public by the end of April -- but that the timetable would now be moved forward to this coming Sunday.
CLOSURES: Several forest recreation areas have been closed as a precaution, while some ferry and flight services have been suspended or rescheduled A land warning for Tropical Storm Danas was issued last night at 8:30pm, as the storm’s outer bands began bringing heavy rain to southeastern regions, including Hualien and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). As of 9:15pm, the storm was approximately 330km west-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, moving north-northeast at 10-20kph, the CWA reported. A sea warning had already been issued at 8:30am yesterday. The storm had maximum sustained winds near its center of 83kph, with gusts of up to 108kph, according to the CWA. As of 9:30pm last night, Kaohsiung, Tainan,
POWERFUL DETERRENT: Precision fire and dispersed deployment of units would allow Taiwanese artillery to inflict heavy casualties in an invasion, a researcher said The nation’s military has boosted its self-defense capability with the establishment of a new company equipped with the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The company, part of the army’s 58th Artillery Command, is Taiwan’s first HIMARS unit. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄), who presided over the formation ceremony in Taichung on Friday, called the unit a significant addition to the nation’s defensive strength, saying it would help deter adversaries from starting a war. The unit is made up of top-performing soldiers who received training in the US, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The HIMARS can be equipped with
UNILATERAL: The move from China’s aviation authority comes despite a previous 2015 agreement that any changes to flight paths would be done by consensus The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday slammed Beijing for arbitrarily opening the M503 flight route’s W121 connecting path, saying that such unilateral conduct disrespected the consensus between both sides and could destabilize the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. The condemnation came after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) earlier yesterday announced it “has activated the W121 connecting path of the M503 flight route,” meaning that west-to-east flights are now permitted along the path. The newly activated west-to-east route is intended to “alleviate the pressure caused by the increase of flights,” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency quoted China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
STRONG WINDS: Without the Central Mountain Range as a shield, people should be ready for high-speed winds, CWA weather forecaster Liu Yu-chi said Danas was yesterday upgraded to a typhoon and could grow stronger as it moves closely along the nation’s west coastline, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Hsinchu and Chiayi cities, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Hsinchu, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Nantou, Chiayi, Penghu and Pingtung counties have canceled work and school today. Work and school in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan, and Yilan, Taitung, Hualien, Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties would continue as usual, although offices and schools would be closed in Taoyuan’s Luju (蘆竹), Dayuan (大園), Guangyin (觀音) and Sinwu (新屋) districts. As of 5pm yesterday, the typhoon’s
RSS