New | Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen faces crisis as cabinet quits en masse

Taiwan’s entire cabinet resigned on Monday afternoon, risking a shutdown of the island’s government and handing president-elect Tsai Ing-wen her first test in managing a crisis.

Tsai, who won the election on Saturday and steered her Democratic Progressive Party to a legislative majority, will be inaugurated on May 20. The shake-up adds another demand to her already crowded list of tasks before taking over.

Outgoing Premier Mao Chi-kuo led the departure of the 44 cabinet members and vowed he wouldn’t remain even after outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang rejected his resignation.

The KMT, which suffered its worst loss in the election, also ­entered a new round of infighting after its losing presidential ­candidate and chairman, Eric Chu Li-luan, resigned to take ­responsibility.

Meanwhile, the island’s key ally, the US, sent former deputy secretary of state William Burns to meet Tsai. Washington also intends to send Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing this week.

Tsai told Burns she would shoulder the responsibility of maintaining regional peace and stability, the Central News Agency reported, in a veiled reference to how her administration would handle its relations with the mainland. Her administration would maintain close, friendly relations with the United States and promote cooperation with Washington in all areas, especially economic and industrial matters, the agency quoted her as saying.

Under Taiwanese law, the vice-premier becomes the acting head of the cabinet if the premier steps down. Mao’s deputy, Simon Chang San-cheng, assumed that role on Monday, but it’s unclear for how long. Chang told reporters all cabinet members would follow Mao in stepping down, and he had his own career plans.