Former minister of economic affairs John Deng (鄧振中), who on Tuesday was named a minister without portfolio, is to be responsible for overseeing the nation’s economic and trade negotiations with foreign governments, Executive Yuan spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said.
Premier Lin Chuan (林全) recommended Deng to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) because he hopes to make use of Deng’s expertise in economic affairs and trade negotiations, Tung said.
Deng has held several important positions in the administrations of former presidents Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), including deputy chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, deputy representative to the WTO, deputy representative to the US, chief representative of the Office of Trade Negotiations, deputy minister of economic affairs and deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
He took over the economics portfolio in December 2014 and held it until Ma left office on May 20.
It is widely believed that one of the most important tasks for Deng in his new post would be to assist the government promote the nation’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
In an interview with the Central News Agency, Deng said that obtaining TPP membership is very important to Taiwan.
The government not only needs to strengthen its communication with the public to find a way of gaining entry that is acceptable to all sides, but also must try to ease the concerns of TPP members and win their support, he said.
Unless these issues are resolved, it will be impossible for Taiwan to join the bloc, he said.
In related news, the Presidential Office on Tuesday said that a national security adviser to Tsai has been appointed deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office.
Yao Jen-to (姚人多) replaces Tseng Hou-jen (曾厚仁), who is to become deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
The decision to transfer Tseng, a former diplomat, to the security council was made as part of Tsai’s efforts to build up the council’s strength in foreign affairs, the Presidential Office said.
Yao has been a key aide to Tsai, assisting her in promoting transitional justice, including apologizing to the nation’s Aborigines, and her promotion represents Tsai’s determination to push related reforms, the office said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY: The storm could move in four possible directions, with the fourth option considered the most threatening to Taiwan, meteorologist Lin De-en said A soon-to-be-formed tropical storm east of the Philippines could begin affecting Taiwan on Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The storm, to be named Fung-wong (鳳凰), is forecast to approach Taiwan on Tuesday next week and could begin affecting the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said, adding that its impact might be amplified by the combined effect with the northeast monsoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the system’s center was 2,800km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻). It was moving northwest at 18kph. Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) on Facebook yesterday wrote that the would-be storm is surrounded by
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