The Executive Yuan appeared to be heading for compromise with legislators over the controversial Agricultural Development Act (
While the legislature's economics committee was debating its review of the Act, the KMT's Central Standing Committee announced the appointment of Lin Hsiang-nung (
Lin replaced Peng Tso-kwei (
Lin, 63, who has been the council vice chairman since 1989, has served four chairmen including Yu Yu-hsien (
His appointment as vice chairman in 1989 raised eyebrows within the council because Lin had more experience in diplomacy than with matters regarding agriculture.
He served as secretary to then Minister of Foreign Affairs Lien Chan (
His 25 years of experience in foreign affairs made him a professional diplomat specializing in foreign languages, politics, the legal system, negotiation, and the quality that was desperately needed for the agricultural initiative of the time, internationalization.
Lin emphasized yesterday that he shared Peng's ideals but would respect the Legislature's decision on the issue.
Meanwhile, DPP legislator Ko Chien-ming (
Ko said that Lin's appointment itself was a clear sign that the Executive Yuan was determined to make a policy U-turn after Peng's departure.
Responding to Ko, Lin said he marched with the farmers because he wanted to let them know that the COA was "not ignoring their voice."
Birthplace
Born 1936 in Meinung (美濃), Kaohsiung County
Education
BA: Department of Foreign Affairs, National Chengchi University (政治?j學)
MA: Graduate School of Politics, Chinese Culture University (??國???j學)
Experience
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (25 years), including stints in Haiti, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile
Served as MOFA's deputy director of the Central and South American Affairs division
Served as vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture for 10 years (1989 -- 1999)
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