Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (TJRA) chairman Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) is to take over as Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, while his vacancy is to be filled by former representative to Japan Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), people familiar with the matter said today.
A reshuffle of senior personnel overseeing cross-strait and diplomatic affairs is underway, as incumbent SEF Chairman Frank Wu (吳豊山) yesterday announced that he is to step down at the end of the year.
During a joint board meeting, Wu said he met with President William Lai (賴清德) on Friday last week to discuss personnel matters at the foundation.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
He agreed on the spot to “make way for others,” confirming that his term would run only until Dec. 31, sources said.
His remarks underscored that the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan had already mapped out a new personnel arrangement for the foundation, sources said.
The SEF is a semi-official organization tasked by the government to handle technical matters involving China.
The personnel arrangements for Japan-related and cross-strait affairs are to be filled by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) figures with “Cabinet-level” political weight, sources said.
Su oversaw the signing of several memorandums of understanding during his tenure as head of the TJRA.
However, his greater asset lies in the trust he built with senior political figures during his time as legislative speaker, sources said.
His anticipated move to the SEF signals that the leadership intends, amid the deliberate deadlock created by Beijing, to hand cross-strait affairs to Su, who has a stronger political profile, sources said.
Meanwhile, Hsieh was appointed a senior adviser to the Presidential Office after stepping down as representative to Japan in August.
Since returning to Taiwan, he has maintained a high public profile, frequently posting on Facebook in support of Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰).
He reportedly declined an invitation from former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to appear on a media program, citing “an impending change in position” — a move widely interpreted as a signal that he was preparing to return to public office.
The chair position at the TJRA has traditionally been held by figures close to the highest levels of government, including former DPP secretary-general Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) and Su.
Given Hsieh’s eight years of networking and experience in Japan, his appointment is seen as a logical move aimed at maintaining the level and stability of Taipei’s communication channel with Tokyo.
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