Taiwan’s new point man on Beijing fails ID test

Taiwan’s new top official on mainland issues took his oath of office on Tuesday, but was immediately attacked by the opposition for failing to identify photos of most of Beijing’s top politicians.

Wang Yu-chi, a trusted confidant of President Ma Ying-jeou who served as his spokesman from 2008 to 2010, was criticised in parliament immediately after being sworn in as chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council.

Wang was shown photos of the top nine members of the Beijing leadership but could recognise only two. Among those he failed to identify was top lawmaker Wu Bangguo.

“You cannot even recognise Wu Bangguo,” said Tsai Chi-chang of the China-sceptic main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). “This could be very dangerous for [Beijing] ties.”

The appointment of Wang last month surprised many and raised concerns about whether the scholar-turned-politician was familiar enough with mainland affairs.

Wang succeeds Lai Shin-Yuan who has been appointed the island’s envoy to the World Trade Organisation.