Taiwan’s new ministers of foreign affairs, labor, mainland affairs, national defense and veteran affairs took office Feb. 26 in Taipei City following a partial Cabinet reshuffle.
Jaushieh Joseph Wu, former secretary-general of the Office of the President, takes over as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with predecessor David Tawei Lee moving to secretary-general of the National Security Council.
Wu, who earned his doctorate in political science from Ohio State University, previously served as secretary-general of the NSC, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., minister of the Mainland Affairs Council and faculty member at Taipei-based National Chengchi University.
During a news conference earlier in the day at MOFA headquarters, Wu said he is deeply honored to shoulder the responsibility of office and is humbled by those who came before him. He vowed to work closely with all government agencies in advancing Taiwan’s foreign relations.
Hsu Ming-chun, ex-deputy major of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, succeeds Lin Mei-chu at the Ministry of Labor after the latter resigned on health grounds; Chen Ming-tung, an expert in cross-strait relations and former MAC minister and deputy minister, replaces Chang Hsiao-yueh at the council; Yen De-fa, previously secretary-general of the NSC, takes over from Feng Shih-kuan at the Ministry of National Defense; and Chiu Kuo-cheng, ex-chief of the general staff at the Republic of China (Taiwan) armed forces, succeeds Lee Hsiang-jow at the Veteran Affairs Council.
The lineup was announced Feb. 23 by Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung, who said the five ministers are well-qualified for the roles based on wide-ranging experience spanning various sectors. (SFC-E)
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