Former Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) yesterday said that he has accepted an offer to serve as vice president of Want Want China Times Group (旺旺中時) beginning on Feb. 1, though he did not specify what his responsibilities would be at the media arm of the snack foods conglomerate.
Hu said he would retire as vice chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) after New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) — the only candidate for KMT chairman — is expected to be sworn in later this month. Hu was mayor of the central city from 2001 until he lost in a re-election bid in last year’s nine-in-one elections.
Hu’s new position has drawn wide attention, due to his prominence in the KMT and the editorial stance of the media group, widely considered to be pro-China, where it makes a fortune from its snack foods business.
On Wednesday, Hu said on Facebook that he had considered how to continue serving Taiwan after losing the mayoral race.
“At the urging of many, I have considered seeking office elsewhere and a return to the central government,” said the 66-year-old, who was minister of foreign affairs from 1997 to 1999. “However, I have since ruled out both paths.”
Hu said that he was “moved by a sincere invitation” by Want Want China Holdings chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明) last month.
Hu went to the headquarters of the media group yesterday for a meeting and was greeted by Tsai and many of the group’s executives.
According to Forbes magazine, as of June last year, Tsai was Taiwan’s richest man, with a net worth of US$9.6 billion.
Hu said that Tsai hopes that by working together, they can wield the media’s influence to improve the lives of Taiwanese.
He said he has witnessed many momentous changes in the nation’s media landscape during his three decades in government, particularly during his tenure as the head of the now-defunct Government Information Office from 1991 to 1996.
Saying he might well be “the first person to jump straight into the media industry after leaving politics,” Hu added that he hopes to bring higher standards of corporate social responsibility to the media sector so it can better serve society’s needs.
Despite plans to move to Taipei for his new position, Hu said his heart remains in Greater Taichung, adding that he still hopes to teach at universities on a part-time basis.
The Want Want China Times Group encompasses China Television Co (中視), CtiTV Inc (中天) and the China Times (中國時報) newspaper.
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