On May 20, President Chen Shui-bian swore in the latest Cabinet with a lineup of younger, more energetic players who are ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead over the next four years. Some of those 43 men and women will be new faces to the media; others will be familiar. Either way, Taiwan's new leaders take pride of place on the following pages in photographs and words.
Yu Shyi-kun, 56, Premier (retained). BA in political science, Tunghai University. He has been a member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly, magistrate of Ilan County, secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party, vice premier, and secretary-general to the President.
Yeh Chu-lan, 55, Vice Premier and concurrently Minister of the Consumer Protection Commission. LL.B., Fu Jen Catholic University. She has been the director of the business department at the United Advertising Company, a member of the Legislative Yuan, minister of transportation and communications, and minister of the Council for Hakka Affairs.
Hu Sheng-cheng, 64, Minister without Portfolio (retained) and concurrently Minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development. Ph.D. in economics, University of Rochester. He is a member of Academia Sinica and has served as director of the Department of Economics at Purdue University and director of the Institute of Economics at Academia Sinica.
Lin Yi-fu, 62, Minister without Portfolio. BA in accountancy and statistics, National Chengchi University. He has been director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade, and deputy minister and minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Lin Sheng-fong, 53, Minister without Portfolio (retained). Ph.D. in architecture, University of California, Berkeley. He has been an adviser to the Ilan County Government, director of Tamkang University's Department and Graduate Institute of Architecture, and Deputy CEO of the 921 Earthquake Post-Disaster Recovery Committee.
Kuo Yao-chi, 48, Minister without Portfolio and concurrently Minister of the Public Construction Commission (retained). MS in urban development planning, University of London. She has been director of the Department of Public Housing at the Taipei City Government and director-general of the Department of Public Affairs in the Office of the President.
Chen Chi-mai, 40, Minister without Portfolio and Executive Yuan Spokesman. MS in preventive medicine, National Taiwan University. He has been a physician at the Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, lecturer at the Taipei Medical University, member of the Legislative Yuan, floor leader of the Democratic Progressive Party Caucus, and convener of the Constitutional Amendment Committee.
Lin Ferng-ching, 57, Minister without Portfolio. Ph.D. in mathematics, University of New York at Buffalo. He has been a professor at the National Taiwan University, director-general of the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Business Administration, and president of the Institute for Information Industry.
Fu Li-yeh, 45, Minister without Portfolio. Ph.D. in social welfare, University of California, Berkeley. She has been a correspondent for the Taiwan-based China Economic News Service, and an associate professor at National Chengchi University.
Arthur Iap, 52, Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan. M.A. in international affairs from Columbia University and LL.M. in comparative jurisprudence from New York University. He has been deputy executive secretary of Taipei County Election Commission, senior adviser at the National Security Council, minister of the Government Information Office, and minister without portfolio.
Su Jia-chyuan, 48, Minister of the Interior. MA in public affairs management, National Sun Yat-sen University. He has been an additional member of the National Assembly, member of the Legislative Yuan, and Pingtung County magistrate.
Chen Tan-sun, 69, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ph.D. from Purdue University. He has been president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, member of the Legislative Yuan, Tainan County magistrate, and member of the Science and Technology Advisory Council of the Office of the President.
Lee Jye, 64, Minister of National Defense. Graduate, United States Naval War College. He has been chief of the Navy Fleet Command, chief of General Staff of Navy General Headquarters, commander-in-chief of ROC Navy, and chief of General Staff of the Department of National Defense.
Lin Chuan, 53, Minister of Finance (retained). Ph.D. in economics, University of Illinois. He has been a professor at National Chengchi University's Department of Public Finance and director of the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Finance, and minister of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
Tu Cheng-sheng, 60, Minister of Education. MA in history, National Taiwan University, and studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science. A member of Academia Sinica, he was previously director of the Institute of History and Philology at Academia Sinica, and director of the National Palace Museum.
Chen Ding-nan, 61, Minister of Justice (retained). LL.B. from National Taiwan University. He has been magisrate of Ilan County, a member of the Legislative Yuan and chief of the DPP legislative caucus, and DPP candidate for governor of Taiwan Province.
Ho Mei-yueh, 53, Minister of Economic Affairs. Graduate in technology management and business administration, National Chengchi University. She has been director and deputy director-general of the Industrial Development Bureau, counselor and director of the Executive Yuan's Fifth Directorate, and deputy minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development.
Lin Ling-san, 60, Minister of Transportation and Communications (retained). MS from Northrop University. He has been director-general of the Taipei City Government's Department of the Rapid Transit Systems, deputy minister of the Public Construction Commission, and a deputy minister of transportation and communications.
Hsu Chih-hsiung, 51, Minister, Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission (retained). LL.. and Ph.D. candidate in law at National Taiwan University. He has been the chairman of the Department of Public Administration at Tamkang University, chairman of Taiwan Law Society, editor-in-chief of The Taiwan Law Review , and minister without portfolio.
Chang Fu-me, 66, Minister, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission (retained). Ph.D. from Harvard University in East Asian studies. She has been a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, a member of the National Assembly, and a member of the Control Yuan.
Perng Fai-nan, 65, Governor of the Central Bank of China (retained). MA in economics, University of Minnesota. He has held numerous positions in the Central Bank of China and served as chairman of the Central Trust of China and chairman of the International Commercial Bank of China.
Hsu Jan-yau, 53, Minister, Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS). MA in statistics, National Chengchi University. He has been executive officer, division chief, deputy director-general, director-general, and deputy minister of the DGBAS.
Lee Yi-yang, 49, Minister, Central Personnel Administration (retained). MS in political science, National Taiwan University. He has been the chief editor of Formosa Magazine , member of the Taipei City Council, director of the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Civil Affairs, and deputy minister of the interior.
Lin Chia-lung, 40, Minister, Government Information Office. Ph.D. in political science, Yale University. He has been an assistant professor at National Chung Cheng University, senior adviser to the National Science Council, director of the Taiwan Thinktank, and spokesman of the Executive Yuan.
Chen Chien-jen , 53, Minister of Health (retained). Sc.D. from Johns Hopkins University. He has been a professor at the National Taiwan University, senior associate at Johns Hopkins University, director-general of the National Science Council's Department of Life Sciences, member of the Academia Sinica, and deputy minister of the National Science Council.
Chang Juu-en, 53, Minister, Environmental Protection Administration (retained). Ph.D. in civil engineering, Tohoku University. He has been a professor at National Cheng Kung University, deputy director-general of the Department of Comprehensive Planning, and deputy minister of the Environmental Protection Administration.
Shih Shou-chien, 53, Director of the National Palace Museum. Ph.D. from Princeton University. He has been a professor at National Taiwan University, research fellow at the Academia Sinica, and deputy director of the National Palace Museum.
Wu Jau-shieh, 50, Minister, Mainland Affairs Council. Ph.D. in political science, Ohio State University. He has been a professor at the National Chengchi University, research fellow and deputy director of the university's Institute of International Relations, and deputy secretary-general of the Office of the President.
Gao Hua-jhu, 58, Minister, Veterans Affairs Commission. Military Science Institute, Armed Forces University. He has been a brigade commander, commanding general of infantry division, commanding general of airborne and special forces, General Staff vice chief, and director of General Political Warfare Department of the Ministry of National Defense.
Cheng Li-chiun, 35, Minister, National Youth Commission. Ph.D. in sociology, University of Pennsylvania. She has been a professor at National Chengchi University's Department of Journalism.
Ouyang Min-shen, 55, Minister of the Atomic Energy Council (retained). Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, University of Wiscon sin-Madison. He has served as director of the Nuclear Science Development Center at National Tsing Hua University, and deputy minister of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Wu Maw-kuen, 55, Minister of the National Science Council. Ph.D. from University of Houston. He has been a professor at the University of Alabama, Columbia University, and National Tsing Hua University, deputy minister of the National Science Council, and director of the Academia Sinica's Institute of Physics.
Yeh Jiunn-rong, 46, Minister of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission. J.S.D. from Yale University. He has been a professor at National Taiwan University, minister without portfolio, executive director of the National Sustainable Development Council and Council for Organizational Reform, and convener of the Council for a Nuclear-Free Homeland.
Lee Chin-lung, 57, Minister, Council of Agriculture (retained). Doctor of Horticultural Science, University of Hannover. He has been a specialist, section chief, department director, secretary-general, and bureau director-general at the Council of Agriculture.
Chen Chi-nan, 57, Minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs. Ph.D. in anthropology, Yale University. He has been deputy minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Chiao Tung University, national policy adviser to the president, and minister without portfolio.
Chen Chu, 54, Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs (retained). Graduated from the Department of Library and Information Studies and the Graduate School of Social Transformation Studies at Shih Hsin University. She has been a member of the National Assembly, and director of the Bureau of Social Affairs in the Taipei and Kaohsiung city governments.
Hwang Tzong-leh, 62, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission (retained). LL.D. from National Osaka University. He has been a professor at the Graduate School of Law at National Taiwan University and National Taipei University, chairman of the Taiwan Law Society, and a national policy adviser to the president.
Chen Chuan-show, 63, Minister of the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. MD from Kyorin University. He has been a professor at National College of Physical Education and Sports, and president of the National Taiwan College of Physical Education.
Chen Chien-nien, 57, Minister of the Council of Aboriginal Affairs (retained). BS in pharmacology, Kaohsiung Medical College. He has been a member of the Taitung County Council, member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly, magistrate of Taitung County, and an adviser to the Taipei City Government.
Shi Hwei-yow , 52, Minister, Coast Guard Administration. LL.D. from National Chengchi University. He has been a judge in Tainan and Taipei, deputy secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation, deputy minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, and secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation.
Luo Wen-jia, 38, Minister, Council for Hakka Affairs. B.A. in international relations, National Taiwan University. He has been spokesman of the Taipei City Government, director of the Democratic Progressive Party's information department , deputy minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs, and member of the Legislative Yuan.
George S.C. Huang, 69, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (retained). LL.B. from Soochow University, honorary Ph.D. from the University of Bridgeport. He has been lawyer, magistrate of Changhua County, minister without portfolio, and national policy adviser to the president.
Lin Fang-mei, 43, Chairwoman of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs. Ph.D. in sociology, University of Pennsylvania. She has been a professor at the National Chengchi University's Department of Journalism and minister of the National Youth Commission.