Sat, Feb 02, 2002 page3

• Eugene Chien presents three pillars of foreign policy

  CHANGING OF THE GUARD The new minister of foreign affairs, sworn in yesterday, says democracy and human rights are essential to the promotion of Taiwan abroad

  • By Monique Chu / STAFF REPORTER
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  New Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) outlined what he termed the three pillars of his future work after taking over the post from the outgoing minister, Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), yesterday.

  New Premier Yu Shyi-kun and his Cabinet members, including Chien, took the oath of office in the Presidential Office yesterday morning, marking the third major Cabinet reshuffle since President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration in May 2000.

  Minister without Portfolio Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) presided over a separate ceremony at the foreign ministry yesterday afternoon during which Tien handed over the ministry's official seal to Chien, completing the transfer procedure amid a roomful of applause.

  Tien, who Chen appointed yesterday as Taipei's representative to London, said he has mixed feelings about the ceremony, finding it "delightful, yet reluctant to let go."

  "It's the close ties that I have developed with the ministry staffers over the past 20 months by working close together that made me feel reluctant to let go," Tien said. "But I also feel relieved now that I can remove all of the burdens of being minister."

  Chien, deputy secretary-general to the president prior to his new appointment, congratulated Tien on his assignment and said he expects Tien to expand ties between Taipei and London.

  Chien also outlined what he termed the three major pillars for his work at the foreign ministry, namely: democracy and human rights, economic prosperity, and peace and security.

  "Democracy and human rights are important national assets," Chien told the media later, adding he plans to use these assets to expand Taiwan's relations.

  The 55-year-old Chien also said Taiwan's promotion of peace in expanding its foreign relations could "forge another safety net" for Taiwan. "We don't want to become an obstacle. Instead, we want to become an asset to peace and security," Chien said.

  When asked if the foreign ministry under his guidance would enhance interactions with the Presidential Office, Chien said that, "According to the Constitution, the top official for Taiwan's foreign relations is the president, and the foreign ministry is to implement the president's foreign policies."

  Chien said during his tenure as Taipei's representative to London, from 1993 to 1998, he visited 12 of Taiwan's representative offices overseas and received first-hand information on China's repression of Taiwan's diplomatic relations.

  Chien said he, as deputy secretary-general to the president, has visited 21 countries -- both on-the-record and confidentially -- thus gaining experience in fighting on the diplomatic front with many of Taiwan's foreign officials.

  Critics said China would remain the major challenge to Chien's efforts promote relations.

  "Basically, cross-strait relations remain a key challenge to our diplomatic work," said Frederick Chien (錢復), president of the Control Yuan and a former foreign minister.

  DPP lawmaker Parris Chang (張旭成) offered a similar view, saying: "our major threat still comes from China."

  "He is going to do very well given his knowledge and experience on foreign affairs. I think he is well prepared and will be able to hit the ground running," Chang added.
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