When Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) was elected as the youngest legislator in Taiwan history in 1984 at the age of 27, he had no idea what kind of political mark he would make in the years ahead. Now almost two decades later, he has been made the youngest Minister of the Interior in the nation's history.
The 44-year-old Yu and his family have strong ties to one of the DPP's heavyweight local factions in Kaohsiung County. Yu is also the leader of the DPP's Justice Alliance.
Because of Yu's close relationship to first lady Wu Shu-chen (
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has long promised to appoint Yu to the Cabinet, but politicians and political scientists have expressed doubts about Yu's qualifications.
Newly-appointed Premier Yu Shyi-kun, however, said that he was the one who decided to tap Yu for the ministry post. He emphasized that Yu's experiences in local government and in the Legislative Yuan make him a perfect candidate for the post.
"President Chen wanted to designate him as the deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, but I insisted that [Yu] be named the Minister of the Interior," Yu Shyi-kun said.
Yu Cheng-hsien and the first lady were colleagues when they served as legislators 10 years ago. Yu took extra care of the first lady, who was disabled in a car accident. They remained close friends to this day.
In the 2000 presidential election, it was Yu's endorsement of Chen that helped the DPP contender receive the most votes in Kaohsiung County. Rumors about Yu's promotion to different positions have been prevalent ever since Chen took office.
Yu, however, objected to notions that his appointment was linked to his relationship with the first family. He argued that his experiences as a three-term legislator and two-terms as a commissioner are enough for any Cabinet post.
Others agreed.
"Yu's help to Wu was more like a boy scout's initiative, he had no idea at that time that Wu would be the first lady," said DPP lawmaker Chen Chi-mai (
DPP legislator Yu Jan-daw (余政道), Yu Cheng-hsien's younger brother, said his sibling is definitely qualified for the post, but that he should keep a low profile at first.
But Lin Ching-yao (
"He doesn't have a strong oratorical ability, or a good sense of policies and he can't deal with conflicts well," Lin said.
Huang Chih-hua (黃志華), a close aide to both Yu and Yu's mother, however, said that Yu is up to the job.
"He believes that the business of the Ministry of the Interior is an extension of county business and he thinks that he is well qualified. In my opinion, he should change the way he deals with conflicts in the future."
Officials and political scientists, however, expressed doubt over Yu's qualifications.
"Managing local government is totally different from managing national interior affairs. He probably needs time to get used to the central government's functions," said a ministry official.
Liao Da-chi (
"A local commissioner only needs to deal with local council members, but a minister has to deal with the Legislative Yuan, which is much more sophisticated," Liao said. "His second term in the county government didn't produce any remarkable achievements. His sense of policymaking probably needs to be strengthened."
Yu is from one of Kaohsiung County's three main factions, the Black Faction, which was established by his grandfather, Yu Deng-fa (余登發), four decades ago. Yu's older sister, Yu Lin-ya (余玲雅), is the vice chairperson of the Development and Evaluation Commission (研考會). His younger brother, Yu Jane-daw (余政道) and wife, Cheng Kuei-lien (鄭貴蓮), are both newly-elected DPP legislators.
Yu and his mother, Yu Chen Yueh-ying (
"It's not fair to link [his appointment] to the clan's efforts. We have tried very hard to erase that impression," Yu Jane-daw (余政道) said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday said that the Chinese Communist Party was planning and implementing “major” reforms, ahead of a political conclave that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda. Chinese policymakers have struggled to reignite growth since late 2022, when restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. The world’s second-largest economy is beset by a debt crisis in the property sector, persistently low consumption and high unemployment among young people. Policymakers “are planning and implementing major measures to further deepen reform in a comprehensive manner,” Xi said in a speech at the Great Hall
CIVIL DEFENSE: More reservists in alternative service would help establish a sound civil defense system for use in wartime and during natural disasters, Kuma Academy’s CEO said While a total of 120,000 reservists are expected to be called up for alternative reserve drills this year, compared with the 6,505 drilled last year, the number has been revised to 58,000 due to a postponed training date, Deputy Minster of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said. In principle, the ministry still aims to call up 120,000 reservists for alternative reserve drills next year, he said, but the actual number would not be decided later until after this year’s evaluation. The increase follows a Legislative Yuan request that the Ministry of the Interior address low recruitment rates, which it made while reviewing
DETERRENCE: Along with US$500 million in military aid and up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees, the bill would allocate US$400 million to countering PRC influence The US House of Representatives on Friday approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan. The legislation, which authorizes funding for the US Department of State, US foreign operations and related programs for next year, passed 212-200 in the Republican-led House. The bill stipulates that the US would provide no less than US$500 million in foreign military financing for Taiwan to enhance deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and offer Taipei up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for the same purpose. The funding would be made available under the US’ Foreign Military
WARNING: China has stepped up harassment of foreign vessels after its new regulation took effect last month, an official said, citing an incident in the Diaoyutai Islands The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday linked China’s seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel illegally operating in its territorial waters to Beijing’s new regulation authorizing the China Coast Guard to seize boats in waters it claims. Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating near China’s coast close to Kinmen County late on Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, the CGA said. The Penghu-registered squid fishing vessel Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88) was boarded and seized by China Coast Guard east-northeast of Liaoluo Bay (料羅灣), 17.5 nautical miles (32.4km) from Taiwan’s restricted waters off Kinmen,