Former vice premier Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) declined the medal presented to her by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), making her the first person during Chen's presidency to refuse the honor regularly bestowed upon outgoing government officials.
It is customary for the president to award medals to outgoing premiers, vice premiers, Cabinet secretaries-general and ministers of national defense.
Chen yesterday conferred the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon on former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), the Order of the Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon on former minister of national defense Lee Jye (李傑) and the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on former Cabinet secretary-general Liu Yu-shan (劉玉山) to recognize their contribution to the country during their tenure.
Tsai, however, did not show up.
This was not the first time Tsai has turned down such an honor. She returned a medal given her by former premier Yu Shyi-kun after she stepped down as chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council in May 2004.
The Presidential Office yesterday said the president recognized Tsai's contribution to the country. Tsai had informed the organizers of the ceremony beforehand that she appreciated the president's good intentions but that she was "not used to accepting medals."
The Presidential Office said it "understood" and "respected" Tsai's decision.
Su yesterday said he was honored to receive the medal and thanked Chen for trusting him and appointing him premier.
He said he was glad to have had had the opportunity to serve the country and that he and his team had made an impressive performance, albeit one that left room for improvement.
Lee expressed his appreciation for the support Chen had given him and the defense ministry. A good example of Chen's backing was the increase in military spending, Lee said. The defense budget increased from 2.4 percent of GDP to last year's 2.85 percent, he said. Next year's budget is estimated at 3 percent of GDP.
Liu described yesterday as "one of the most exciting moments of his 37-year career as a civil servant." He said he was lucky to have been a member of Cabinet and was proud to have performed his duty and observed the core values of Taiwan-centered consciousness and social justice.
He said he would continue to make contributions to the country as a minister without portfolio.
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