Following revelations of involvement in an extramarital affair, Presidential Office Secretary-General John Chang (31孝嚴) tendered his resignation to President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday.
In his resignation, Chang admitted that due to "personal factors," he was no longer able to properly fulfill his position, and that he had therefore requested to leave office as soon as possible.
Yesterday was the first time since the news broke on Tuesday that the secretary-general had faced the media.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, LIBERTY TIMES
Chang was repentant at a hastily-called press conference at the Presidential Office.
"The mistake was the biggest and most irreparable I have ever made in my entire life," he said.
"With a shameful heart, I admit my mistake and have tendered my resignation to the president," he added.
Chang is the first Presidential Office secretary-general to quit his job under such circumstances. He is also the shortest-serving chief of the Presidential Office, having served only 45 days after previously holding the post of KMT secretary-general.
Presidential Office spokesman Ting Yuan-chao (?B遠超), who acted as Chang's spokesman yesterday, said that in spite of the president's initial unwillingness to accept the resignation, President Lee felt that the situation was such that he had no other choice.
Ting said the president had no immediate plans to reassign Chang.
Chang said that he wanted to take time not just to reflect on his behavior, but also to spend more time with his "beloved family."
Chang's wife, Huang Mei-lun(黃美-?, also attended the press conference, saying that both she and her children would forgive Chang.
"We will give him all the support he needs, and hope our lives will return to normal as soon as possible,'' she said.
The affair came to light in the form of a note signed by Chang and obtained by the media, in which he promised the woman involved -- Wang Hsiao-chan (?y殼N嬋), a former TV actress now working as an interior designer -- that he would complete arrangements for a divorce before next June.
Spokesman Ting had said previously that the note was signed under "abnormal circumstances."
Chang emphasized that his resignation had nothing to do with the upcoming presidential election next March.
Ting quoted him as saying that there should be no misunderstanding regarding the reasons for his resignation since Chang was neither a candidate, nor had any electoral duties.
Chang's successor, who will begin work today, is senior presidential advisor Ding Mou-shih (?B懋時), who once served as Taiwan's chief representative in Washington, DC, and also as foreign minister.
He will also serve concurrently as acting secretary-general of the National Security Council in place of incumbent Yin Tsung-wen (
"In the president's consideration, Ding is the most suitable candidate for the job. As far as I understand, the president never considered another person for the job,'' a spokesman for the president said.
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