Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday appointed Minister Without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) as the Executive Yuan’s new spokesman, a position that had been vacant for nearly three months after former spokesman Ting Yi-ming (丁怡銘) stepped down amid controversy.
Ting resigned in November last year after sparking an uproar over his claim that an award-winning beef noodle store in Taipei was serving pork containing ractopamine — an allegation that proved to be false.
Earlier that same month, media reports said that Ting’s office had produced online propaganda to attack opposition parties.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Su has high hopes that Lo, a renowned lawyer, would be able to unite the various ministries’ spokespersons to deliver a clear and concise message, as well as help simplify and explain legal matters to the public, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Li Meng-yen (李孟諺) told a news conference after a regular Cabinet meeting in Taipei.
Lo’s ability to deliver government policies clearly and his professional skills make him exceptionally qualified for the position, and his appointment would help the Executive Yuan communicate its policies to the public, Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) said.
A Cabinet spokesperson represents the government and is responsible for delivering its policies to the public, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said.
Many have left the post, either because they were forced to quit or left of their own volition, because they failed to be effective communicators of government policy, triggering a public backlash, he said.
While congratulating Lo Ping-cheng on his appointment, Chiang said he should work on implementing what President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has pledged to do — facilitate negotiation between the government and the public, especially on issues such as the import of pork containing ractopamine residue.
Taiwan People’s Party caucus deputy convener Ann Kao (高虹安) said that with his background in law and as a staunch supporter of human rights, Lo Ping-cheng was a good choice to help bridge communication between the Executive Yuan and the Legislative Yuan on constitutional amendments and human rights issues.
However, he should also bear in mind the circumstances that led to his appointment as spokesman, she said, adding that he and his staff should strive to be politically neutral and avoid attacking the opposition.
Several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials including Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) are to be summoned for questioning and then transferred to prosecutors for holding an illegal assembly in Taipei last night, the Taipei Police said today. Chu and two others hosted an illegal assembly and are to be requested to explain their actions, the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongzheng (中正) First Precinct said, referring to a protest held after Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹), KMT Taipei's chapter director, and several other KMT staffers were questioned for alleged signature forgery in recall petitions against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators. Taipei prosecutors had filed
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday established a friendship group with their counterparts in Ukraine to promote parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. A ceremony in Taipei for the Taiwan-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Association, initiated by DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), was attended by lawmakers and officials, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) and European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Lutz Gullner. The increasingly dire situation in Ukraine is a global concern, and Taiwan cannot turn its back when the latter is in need of help, as the two countries share many common values and interests,
RSS