The Presidential Office and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday welcomed their new secretaries-general as former Presidential Office secretary-general Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) took up his new post in the KMT and was replaced by former Examination Yuan vice president Wu Jin-lin (伍錦霖).
Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), who presided over the handover ceremony at the Presidential Office in the morning, described Liao as a man who paid attention to detail.
Citing the example of an oil painting in the Rainbow Room, where the ceremony was held, Siew said the only reason it was on display again was because of Liao.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Shortly after Liao assumed the Presidential Office post last September, he became curious about a painting stored in the presidential warehouse in Sansia (三峽), New Taipei City (新北市). After discovering the damaged painting was a national treasure, Liao asked the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts to restore it and it was unveiled on Jan. 24. The painting had been a gift from an art association for then-president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) in 1960 to celebrate his third inauguration as president of the Republic of China.
Yesterday afternoon, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) presented Liao with the Order of the Brilliant Star, first class, for his contributions to the country.
Siew praised Wu’s extensive political experience and management skills, adding that he had read a newspaper report that described Wu as someone “who does not make trouble.”
“I think he is someone who resolves trouble,” Siew said. “Wherever he is, the problems will be resolved.”
Wu said he hoped to work with the presidential staff under the principles of honesty, loyalty, efficiency and professionalism.
KMT secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), who handed over his seal to Liao at KMT headquarters in the morning, said he was like a basketball player taking a break at the third quarter, who would return to play whenever the opportunity arose.
King also likened the KMT post to a relay race, saying he had done his best durng his stint and now it was Liao’s turn to carry the baton.
King resigned after leading the KMT to victory in last November’s special municipality elections. The KMT retained three mayoral seats, but lost the popular vote to the Democratic Progressive Party, which held onto two of the cities.
Liao vowed to commit himself to party reform, saying only through reform could the KMT have a “rebirth from fire.” He called for unity and sacrifice for the party when necessary.
Liao drew some laughs when he said King had called him yesterday morning and he thought King was going to tell him not to bother showing up at KMT headquarters to take over the new job.
Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, said he hoped King and Liao would continue to dedicate themselves to serving the people and the party.
MILESTONE: The foreign minister called the signing ‘a major step forward in US-Taiwan relations,’ while the Presidential Office said it was a symbol of the nations’ shared values US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the US Department of State to regularly review and update guidelines governing official US interactions with Taiwan. The new law is an amendment to the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 focused on reviewing guidelines on US interactions with Taiwan. Previously, the state department was required to conduct a one-time review of its guidance governing relations with Taiwan, but under the new bill, the agency must conduct a review “not less than every five years.” It must then submit an updated report based on its findings “not later
The Presidential Office today thanked the US for enacting the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the US Department of State to regularly review and update guidelines governing official US interactions with Taiwan. The new law, signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday, is an amendment to the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 focused on reviewing guidelines on US interactions with Taiwan. Previously, the department was required to conduct a one-time review of its guidance governing relations with Taiwan, but under the new bill, the agency must conduct such a review "not less than every five years." It must then submit an updated
STAYING ALERT: China this week deployed its largest maritime show of force to date in the region, prompting concern in Taipei and Tokyo, which Beijing has brushed off Deterring conflict over Taiwan is a priority, the White House said in its National Security Strategy published yesterday, which also called on Japan and South Korea to increase their defense spending to help protect the first island chain. Taiwan is strategically positioned between Northeast and Southeast Asia, and provides direct access to the second island chain, with one-third of global shipping passing through the South China Sea, the report said. Given the implications for the US economy, along with Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductors, “deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority,” it said. However, the strategy also reiterated
Taiwanese prosecutors charged Tokyo Electron Ltd for failing to prevent staff from allegedly stealing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) trade secrets, escalating a dispute involving two Asian linchpins of a chip industry increasingly vital to national and economic security. Prosecutors indicted the Japanese company on four counts of contravening the Trade Secrets Act (營業秘密法) and the National Security Act (國家安全法), they said in a statement yesterday. They’re asking a local court to rule in favor of their request for Tokyo Electron pay a fine of up to NT$120 million (US$3.8 million) for failing in its duty to prevent the alleged
RSS