President-elect William Lai’s (賴清德) partial list of picks for the incoming Cabinet drew praise from allies and criticism from opponents yesterday, with reactions largely falling along political lines.
Former Cabinet secretary-general Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), who Lai named as presumptive premier, is experienced in governance and negotiating political waters, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) told a news conference in Taipei, adding that he commands confidence.
With a well-rounded resume and reputation for political skills, Cho would likely prove a good leader of the Cabinet and communicate effectively with the legislature, Wu said.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Former minister of culture Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), tapped for vice premier, was a convener at the National Hope Project, the Lai campaign’s task force that wrote his campaign platform, Wu said.
Cho enjoys Lai’s trust, has a good sense for trends in public opinion and is skilled at brokering deals, while Cheng’s involvement in crafting the president-elect’s policies ensured her place in the Cabinet, Wu said.
Regarding National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Wellington Koo (顧立雄) — who is set to be the next defense minister, DPP Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said criticism that Koo lacks military experience is misguided.
Following changes to the Ministry of National Defense’s organization, its administration and leadership have been unified, Chuang said, adding that Taiwan would not be the first nation to name a civilian to run its defense ministry.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智?) said that the DPP officials picked for Lai’s Cabinet are distinguished by checkered ethical records, while the list showed no innovation or initiative.
KMT Taoyuan Councilor Ling Tao (凌濤) said that Lai’s slogan to name an “active and innovative Cabinet,” or an “AI Cabinet,” belies a government with no new ideas.
The “AI” misleads the public into thinking something is being done with artificial intelligence, Ling said.
“The people tapped by Lai are the same politicians who sound like a broken record or a wolf warrior during questioning at the legislature,” he said, adding that “ChatGPT would probably have done better.”
Koo has no military experience and he is known only for making belligerent comments about China, Ling said, adding that Taiwanese should be scared by the prospect of the new administration.
Lai would do well not to give Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Lee Huai-jen (李懷仁) a Cabinet post, as Lee has been caught napping during a legislative session, KMT New Taipei City Councilor Chiang I-chen (江怡臻) said.
Cho talked a lot about innovation at Lai’s news conference, but said nothing about what that would mean when it comes to policymaking, Taiwan People’s Party spokeswoman Wu Yi-hsuan (吳怡萱) said in a statement, adding that Taiwanese would have better luck asking Siri about the “AI” Cabinet.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiao-huang
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