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Taiwan's Defense Chief To Lead New Cabinet
2000-03-29
TAIPEI - Taiwan President-elect Chen Shui-bian on Wednesday appointed incumbent defence minister Tang Fei as premier and cabinet chief in his new government and said the move would help foster peace with rival China.Tang, a veteran member of the Nationalist Party, said he had accepted Chen's offer, but a final decision would hinge on his party, which lost its five-decade grip on power in the March 18 presidential elections. ''I have in principle accepted. But I still have to ask for permission from my party,'' Tang said shortly after Chen announced his decision. The appointment was expected to help Chen build support in the military which has long been controlled by the Nationalist Party, but it was not clear how Beijing would respond. ''Based on the consideration of national security, minister Tang is the most ideal choice for the premier,'' said Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party openly espouses independence. ''I believe the appointment of minister Tang as premier will not create tensions in the Taiwan Strait,'' Chen said when asked if Beijing would see the move as hostile. ''Our goal is to pursue peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and in the Asia-Pacific region,'' Chen said. Seen by many as Beijing's least favoured candidate, Chen's victory had triggered concerns of heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing, which sees the island as a breakaway province that must be brought under its rule, has said it would watch Chen's words and deeds. Chen swept to power in the March presidential elections that ended the Nationalist Party's five-decade rule and will assume the presidency on May 20. Some analysts saw Tang's appointment as an assurance to Beijing given the military long-standing opposition to Taiwan independence. ''Chen Shui-bian's decision shows stability in domestic politics and cross-strait relations come first in the transfer of power,'' said Chang Wu-ueh, director of the Graduate Institute of China Studies at Tamkang University. ''The military long-standing anti-independence position will help clear the Chinese Communists' doubts about the DPP's pro-independence stance,'' Chang was quoted by the Central News Agency as saying. Several local business leaders have thrown their weight behind Chen's choice. But the appointment of a long-time military man to be head of cabinet was expected to raise some concerns about military control over the government. It was Chen's DPP which led bloody riots in protest at President Lee Teng-hui's 1990 appointment of defence minister Hau Pei-tsun as premier. Chen said he admired Tang's efforts to depoliticise the military and streamline the armed forces. ''Minister Tang's insistence to neutralise the military deserves to be given a thumb-up,'' Tang said. Tang, 68, has served in the military for more than five decades. He was brought to the Nationalist cabinet led by Vincent Siew in 1999 and and has been one of the most popular cabinet members, according to local surveys. Chen made the appointment decision after Taiwan's top scientist, Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh, declined to lead Chen's cabinet. Lee's last-minute endorsement was seen as a key factor behind Chen's victory in a Chinese society that venerates scholars. The 1986 Nobel Prize winner for chemistry will remain president of the Academia Sinica, the government's leading research institute, Chen said.
Kuomintang congress brings in reforms (2000-06-19)Taiwan's Nationalist Party adopts sweeping reforms (2000-06-19)Taiwan's Defense Chief To Lead New Cabinet (2000-03-29)Taiwan's Lee Congratulates Chen, Establishes Transition Team (2000-03-20)Taiwan's Lien Campaign Claims 600,000 at Rallies (2000-03-18)
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