The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), usually characterized as a "local" or "grassroots" party, has placed former National Security Council senior advisor Lai Hsin-yuan (賴幸媛), a woman with economic and international affairs credentials, at No. 2 on its legislator-at-large list, virtually ensuring her election.
From an academic background, Lai is known as a determined leader and efficient operator who can reach a compromise when necessary. Though not a conspicuous public figure, important government officials and directors of major think tanks have expressed high regard for her achievements in expanding Taiwan's space in the international community and furthering the nation's economic and diplomatic affairs.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAI HSIN-YUAN
"She is the key in all of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] forums and was a major player in the team that won Taiwan admission into the WTO," said former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who now serves as chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council.
Lai was born in 1956 and worked as a reporter from 1979 to 1981. After this, she pursued studies in Britain in international affairs, where she remained for 10 years, receiving a master's degree in economics at the University of London and a PhD at Sussex University.
During this time she also worked in Geneva as a researcher with the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the International Labor Organization.
"While studying in Europe, I had the opportunity to meet with important academics and engage in the give-and-take of politics within an international organization," Lai said.
In 1996, at the invitation of Wu Rong-i (吳榮義) then president of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, Lai returned home to lead a section of the institute and participate in the Pacific Econo-mic Co-operation Council, the Pacific Basin Economic Council and APEC.
"The APEC Research Center, which she established and led, made Taiwan's participation in APEC an urgent topic in political and academic circles, and successfully drew together government and public support on the issue," Wu said.
In 1998, Lai was responsible for planning a number of debates at the APEC conference in Kuala Lumpur, including the use of corporate funds from Taiwan guaranteeing bonds issued by Asian countries hard hit by the financial crisis. She also helped prepare a proposal for a welfare safety net.
Unfortunately, Taiwan's officials at that time were more focused on solving several financial problems, and the proposals enjoyed little response. But APEC ministers did come to a consensus on the safety net.
"During APEC, Taiwan's media were mostly focusing on the cross-strait issue and the nominations for Taiwan's special representative. They generally ignored the fact that APEC's main purpose is trade cooperation and regional integration, both areas in which Taiwan's members did outstanding work," Lai said.
After the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in 2000, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) brought Lai to the National Security Council to see if she could shift from her role as government staffer to a leadership position. She fulfilled her potential.
"Many people believe that over the last four years, the administration has been at the mercy of the DPP, and that this has affected the quality of its rule," she said. "I feel differently. Looking at things from the perspective of an official involved in foreign affairs, economic affairs, agricultural affairs and public works, I believe that government officials from the top to the middle levels have worked very hard and achieved their goals.
"I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with these people," she said. "To make efficient use of an administration depends on a leader's ability. It depends on his determination and whether or not he has clear goals and a clear direction, and whether he has the right people to solve problems," Lai said.
Lai's style has earned her the nickname of "iron lady" in the National Security Council. Lai has also been a major force in the promotion of recycled energy, wind-generated power, solar power and other infrastructure projects, and in only one year has converted the Presidential Office to solar power.
"Unlike most DPP officials, who are unfamiliar with the workings of a large administrative system, Lai is a very efficient and strong manager, and her abilities have made many of its ministers look weak in comparison," said Antonio Chiang (江春男), former deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
"Compared with the legislators, who are busy dealing with voter requests and have no experience in the operation of government, Lai is thoroughly experienced in negotiations between government departments ... and can play a guiding role for her colleagues in the legislature as they uncover the government's real problems," TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (
"She could even dominate government policy in future," he added.
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