Newly-appointed National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Hsueh Shih-ming (
The Presidential Office announced last week that he would replace Tsai Tsao-ming (
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO
Hsueh was appointed the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau in 2001, marking his first step into the military intelligence system.
Before that, Hsueh had been commanding combat troops. His most noteworthy experience was as the commander of the army's paratrooper force, a post he occupied for four years. It was here that his reputation as a "tough guy" was firmly established.
He has also served as commander of the Kinmen defense command.
The choice of Hsueh as the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau was generally considered to have been proposed by Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明), who was desperate to find a replacement for Vice Admiral Hsu Chu-sheng (徐筑生).
Hsu had fallen into disfavor with Tang because of his controversial handling of incidents including a case in which a former intelligence agent accused former president Lee Teng-hui (
The agent claimed that Lee's revelation had led to the arrest of the members of a Taiwanese spy ring in China.
Hsueh took command of the Military Intelligence Bureau with no previous intelligence experience.
According to defense sources, Hsueh was praised by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for his work in the Kinmen defense command.
At the time, the DPP-led government was pushing for direct sea links between Kinmen and China. Hsueh made considerable contributions to this effort.
Over the next two years, Hsueh distinguished himself as the chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau.
Military analyst Chang Yu-hua (
Because of his tough character, Hsueh is expected to be the man for the job to reform the country's intelligence system.
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