Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday confirmed that Department of Health (DOH) Director-General Twu Shiing-jer (
"Twu called me late Thursday night to say he was quitting and submitted a formal resignation to me this morning," Yu said.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Yu also appointed Su I-jen (
Twu said he must take responsibility for the deaths of doctors and nurses from SARS and the inability of health officials to provide enough protective gear for medical workers on the frontline of the SARS battle.
Chen Chien-jen, who is also the chairman of the Cabinet's SARS Advisory Committee, had previously been named by President Chen Shui-bian to lead the official delegation going to Geneva for the World Health Assembly meeting which starts on Monday.
"Facing the new task [as DOH chief], my departure for Geneva is bound to be postponed," Chen Chien-jen said yesterday.
He had been scheduled to leave for Geneva on Monday.
Chen Chien-jen, 52, is the nation's leading epidemiologist as well as a senior research fellow at Academic Sinica. His is also responsible for reviewing the daily SARS situation in the country and advising the government on how to control the epidemic.
He earned a master's degree in public health from National Taiwan University in 1977 and then received a doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1982.
The Presidential Office confirmed Chen Chien-jen's official nomination as head of the DOH last night.
Twu said yesterday that he would still be involved in the anti-SARS campaign.
"I will not retreat from front-line SARS-fighting work," Twu said after TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
Meanwhile, the DPP announced yesterday that its deputy secretary-general, Lee Ying-yuan (
"Starting today, Lee will participate in the Cabinet's SARS-prevention team on a temporary-transfer basis until the end of June," DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said.
Lee, who holds a master's degree in public health from Harvard University and received a doctorate in health economics from the University of North Carolina, will serve as a special consultant to the chief of the committee, Lee Ming-liang (
Lee Ying-yuan's role as spokesperson for the DPP and his other party duties will be handled by another deputy secretary-general, Lee Ching-yung (
CRITICAL MOVE: TSMC’s plan to invest another US$100 billion in US chipmaking would boost Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market, the premier said The government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan while assisting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in investing overseas, the Presidential Office said yesterday. The statement follows a joint announcement by the world’s largest contract chipmaker and US President Donald Trump on Monday that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next four years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US, which would include construction of three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The government knew about the deal in advance and would assist, Presidential
‘DANGEROUS GAME’: Legislative Yuan budget cuts have already become a point of discussion for Democrats and Republicans in Washington, Elbridge Colby said Taiwan’s fall to China “would be a disaster for American interests” and Taipei must raise defense spending to deter Beijing, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon policy, Elbridge Colby, said on Tuesday during his US Senate confirmation hearing. The nominee for US undersecretary of defense for policy told the Armed Services Committee that Washington needs to motivate Taiwan to avoid a conflict with China and that he is “profoundly disturbed” about its perceived reluctance to raise defense spending closer to 10 percent of GDP. Colby, a China hawk who also served in the Pentagon in Trump’s first team,
SEPARATE: The MAC rebutted Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is China’s province, asserting that UN Resolution 2758 neither mentions Taiwan nor grants the PRC authority over it The “status quo” of democratic Taiwan and autocratic China not belonging to each other has long been recognized by the international community, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday in its rebuttal of Beijing’s claim that Taiwan can only be represented in the UN as “Taiwan, Province of China.” Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) yesterday at a news conference of the third session at the 14th National People’s Congress said that Taiwan can only be referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China” at the UN. Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory, which is not only history but
INVESTMENT WATCH: The US activity would not affect the firm’s investment in Taiwan, where 11 production lines would likely be completed this year, C.C. Wei said Investments by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in the US should not be a cause for concern, but rather seen as the moment that the company and Taiwan stepped into the global spotlight, President William Lai (賴清德) told a news conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday alongside TSMC chairman and chief executive officer C.C. Wei (魏哲家). Wei and US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday announced plans to invest US$100 billion in the US to build three advanced foundries, two packaging plants, and a research and development center, after Trump threatened to slap tariffs on chips made
RSS