Former Mainland Affairs Council chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (
"It is confirmed that Tsai will serve as vice premier," Su told reporters yesterday. "She is a talented person well-versed in economic and financial affairs and cross-strait relations."
Tsai, who is a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator-at-large, has a doctorate from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is widely regarded as a cool strategist.
An articulate academic-turned-politician, Tsai is also known for her negotiating skills. She played a key role in talks that led to Taiwan's accession to the WTO in 2002.
Tsai can be expected to fill in major gaps for Su, who has keen political skills but little experience in international affairs or cross-strait relations.
Vice President Annette Lu (
Su, a former DPP chairman, was appointed premier by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Thursday in a bid to revive the government's flagging popularity.
Yesterday, Su said he would appoint Cabinet Deputy Secretary-General Liu Yu-shan (劉玉山) to the post of secretary-general in the new Cabinet.
Su also confirmed a number of personnel for Cabinet posts relating to economics and finance (see graphic).
Su will name other Cabinet members in a major reshuffle before his team is sworn in next week after Premier Frank Hsieh (
Su yesterday said that "it is hard to calculate personnel arrangements mathematically," but that he was trying "to put the right people in the right places."
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New ministers of economics and finance appointed
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
MEET AND GREET: The White House, which called the interaction ‘just a handshake,’ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden planned to visit Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC summit, Lin Hsin-i (林信義), on Friday invited US President Joe Biden to visit Taiwan. During the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue, Lin, who represented President William Lai (賴清德) at the summit, spoke with Biden and expressed gratitude to the outgoing US president for his contribution to improving bilateral ties between Taipei and Washington over the past four years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lin and Biden exchanged views during the conversation, with Lin extending an invitation to Biden to visit Taiwan, it said. Biden is to step down in January next year, when US president-elect Donald Trump is
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