Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉) yesterday confirmed that he has tendered his resignation, and is to leave the post on Feb. 6, reportedly without a next posting in place.
Kao, who has held the SEF position since 2008, said he had long planned to retire from the foundation when former SEF chairman Chiang Ping-kung (江丙坤) resigned two years ago. He denied that his resignation was a result of problematic relations with SEF Chairman Lin Join-sane (林中森).
“I am honored to have been involved in cross-strait developments over the past 20 years. I have no career plans following my resignation and my retirement will bring a generational change to the field,” he said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Kao worked with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in the Executive Yuan handling cross-strait affairs when Ma served on the Research, Development and Evaluation Committee. Kao also served as deputy minister of the Mainland Affairs Council.
He yesterday thanked Ma and Chiang for their recognition of his efforts in cross-strait developments, and again said he did not have problematic relations with Lin.
The Presidential Office said yesterday that Ma had been briefed about Kao’s resignation last week, and Ma approved his resignation.
Kao said yesterday that he reached a consensus with the government that he would leave the post soon after Chiang’s resignation. He had offered his resignation in September last year, but did not leave for various reasons.
Lin yesterday also dismissed reports of a problematic relationship between him and Kao, and said Kao had told him about his retirement plans since he took over as chairman.
“Everyone knows that we have cooperated seamlessly and fulfilled our duties,” he said.
SEF Deputy Secretary-General Ma Shaw-chang (馬紹章) or National Policy Foundation committee member Cheng An-kuo (鄭安國) are thought to be likely successors to the post.
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
FREEDOM CURTAILED: The conviction of 45 democracy advocates proves the ‘unworkability’ of Beijing’s ‘one country, two systems’ model, the Presidential Office said Taiwan yesterday condemned China over the jailing of 45 Hong Kong activists, saying “democracy is not a crime.” The government “strongly condemned the Chinese government’s use of judicial measures and unfair procedures to suppress the political participation and freedom of speech of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activists,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said in a statement. International condemnation of the jailings has been swift, with the US, Australia and rights groups slamming the sentencing as evidence of the erosion of political freedoms in the territory since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020. Yesterday’s sentencing “not only breaks the promises of ‘50
RSS