The top hierarchy at the Ministry of National Defense is undergoing a big shake-up, with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said to be closely involved in the changes and promotions at the highest levels of the nation’s armed forces.
Local media reports said that Minister of National Defense Yen Ming (嚴明) has already tendered his resignation to the president, with his post likely to be filled by Chief of General Staff Admiral Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻).
Kao had previously served as deputy minister of defense, and his post is expected to be filled by Army Commander General Yen Teh-fa (嚴德發).
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Deputy Minister of National Defense General Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) is expected to take over the post of army commander.
According to the Chinese-
language United Evening News and online news agency Storm Media, while Yen Ming has tendered his resignation, the president has urged him to stay on for the time being. However, if he sticks to his decision to leave, top hierarchy changes at the ministry could be imminent — as early as within the next few weeks.
Military sources said that Ma had asked Yen Ming to remain in his post at least until the end of March, when Kao is scheduled to retire from active service in the navy and would then be ready to take over as head of the defense ministry.
Rumors of Yen Ming’s possible resignation were rife among senior military officials over the past two weeks. His resignation and subsequent personnel appointments are widely perceived to be calculated moves by Ma to retain control over the armed forces by installing men from his personal sphere of influence into senior posts.
Kao is the younger brother of Kao Lang (高朗), who was a top aide to Ma and had served as Presidential Office deputy secretary-general.
Other likely forthcoming appointments to senior ministry positions were reportedly men who had gained the president’s personal trust and were selected by Ma, in a bid by the highly unpopular, lame-duck president to continue influencing policies and decisionmaking in the military.
The government issued a public statement on Dec. 30 denying that Yen Ming had tendered his resignation.
The ministry also released a statement yesterday saying that the latest reports about Yen Ming’s position were speculation and had no factual basis.
However, political pundits said the government’s denial is a stalling tactic to keep media from reporting on the matter and to prevent the public from being informed on behind-the-scenes political machinations by Ma.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS