In a near-completion of what has proved no easy task in building the skeleton of the new DPP-led government, President-elect Chen Shui-bian (
At the same time, Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) announced that the ad hoc National Policy Advisory Committee he headed -- which held its third meeting yesterday -- had decided to disband, having completed its task in assisting Chen in building a new government.
Among those confirmed yesterday, Shea Jia-dong (
Trained as an economist, the 52-year-old Shea has worked as a research fellow at Academia Sinica and taught at National Taiwan University before taking up his present position in 1996.
Ovid J.L. Tzeng (
DPP legislator Yeh Chu-lan (
Two ministers without portfo-lio were also confirmed, including Wu Rong-ming (
Also invited to serve was Huang Jong-tsun (黃榮村), a psychology professor at National Taiwan University and an active education reformist. Previous reports had tipped Huang to be a possible candidate for Minister of Education.
Mayor of Tainan Mark Chen (
The new Coast Guard Administration, meanwhile, will be led by Wang Chun (王郡), the incumbent National Police Administration deputy director.
Wang had previously headed the seventh police peace preservation corps -- the predecessor of the now defunct marine police department -- as well as the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Kaohsiung City Police Administration.
Army General Yang Teh-chih (
Among the appointments still awaiting confirmation were aerospace specialist Kuo Ching-chiang (
On the appointments of vice ministerial positions, DPP legislator Tsai Ming-hsien (
The difficult decisions over the Cabinet appointments have triggered speculation in the media of disagreement between Chen and Tang Fei. The premier-designate yesterday, however, dismissed the rumors as unfounded.Alos See Mark Chen Inside
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
SECURITY CONCERNS: An FBI agent said it was surprising that the shooter, whose motive remains unknown, was able to open fire before the Secret Service killed him On the heels of an apparent attempt to kill him, former US president Donald Trump yesterday called for unity and resilience as shocked leaders across the political divide recoiled from the shooting that left him injured, but “fine,” and the shooter and a rally-goer dead. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting His aides said he was in “great spirits” and doing well. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place,” he