Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Chang said he will not allow any Cabinet member to resign before he finishes a comprehensive evaluation on a partial Cabinet reshuffle.
"Until a comprehensive evaluation is made, I won't approve any resignation by anyone, and I don't want to see any more Cabinet members tender their resignation," Chang said.
As to the possibility of reshuffling the Cabinet before May 20 -- the anniversary of President Chen Shui-bian's (
Chang, meanwhile, reiterated that he does not have a concrete timetable for the reshuffle.
"I know that the public has very high expectations of the Executive Yuan, and I'll work hard to maintain the team under the best conditions," Chang said.
Originally, information from sources close to the Presidential Office suggested there would only be a plan to reshuffle the Cabinet after May 20. But the oil spill from a shipwreck on Jan. 14 has led to strong public disapproval of the Executive Yuan, owing to its delayed response to the disaster.
Opposition legislators have recently demanded that the responsible Cabinet members and officials be replaced. Topping their list was Lin Jun-yi (
A report sent to Chang by the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission on Monday also listed Lin and Yeh as two of the officials who should be held responsible for administrative incompetence in the handling of the spill. The other was Lin's deputy, James Lee (
Both Lin and Yeh told the legislature on Tuesday that they were willing to take responsibility, and Yeh opted to tender her resignation.
Although Yeh's oral resignation has been turned down, sources said that Yeh is still firm about her decision and may tender an official letter of resignation today.
Executive Yuan officials said Chang is unlikely to let Yeh step down because she is not among the officials who have performed poorly.
In addition, they say that taking responsibility for the oil spill does not necessarily mean they have to resign.
Officials said Chang will definitely conduct a Cabinet reshuffle to boost administrative efficiency, but the timing for it is still under evaluation.
On Tuesday, Chang unveiled the standards he is using to evaluate whether a Cabinet member will be replaced. These included good teamwork, the ability to carry out duties, professional ability and public reputation.
‘ONE BRIDGE’: The US president-elect met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 in Florida and the two discussed a potential Taiwan-China conflict’s implications for world peace US president-elect Donald Trump has described Taiwan as “a major issue for world peace” during a meeting with Akie Abe, the widow of late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun quoted sources as saying in a report yesterday. Trump met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two discussed the Russo-Ukrainian war and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. During the meeting, Trump spoke on the implications for world peace of a potential Taiwan-China conflict, which “indicated his administration’s stance of placing importance on dealing with the situation in
QUICK LOOK: The amendments include stricter recall requirements and Constitutional Court procedures, as well as a big increase in local governments’ budgets Portions of controversial amendments to tighten requirements for recalling officials and Constitutional Court procedures were passed by opposition lawmakers yesterday following clashes between lawmakers in the morning, as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members tried to block Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators from entering the chamber. Parts of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) passed the third reading yesterday. The legislature was still voting on various amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) as of press time last night, after the session was extended to midnight. Amendments to Article 4
ALLIANCE: Washington continues to implement its policy of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan and helps enhance its defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said US President Joe Biden on Friday agreed to provide US$571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, the White House said, while the US State Department approved the potential sale of US$265 million in military equipment. Biden had delegated to the secretary of state the authority “to direct the drawdown of up to US$571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” the White House said in a statement. However, it did not provide specific details about this latest package, which was the third of its kind to
CONSIDERING OPTIONS: Lai’s office said he regrets, but respects the outcome, and his administration is looking at all legal and constitutional means to maintain democracy The Legislative Yuan yesterday rejected all seven nominees for the Constitutional Court, an expected outcome that could immobilize the court. President William Lai (賴清德) nominated the justice candidates, including the nominees for the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, at the end of August. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus opposed all the nominees, while Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said his party only approved of National Taiwan University (NTU) Graduate Institute of National Development professor Liu Ching-yi (劉靜怡). The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus opposed the appointment of Liu, but approved the other nominees. As defenders of