Taiwan's cabinet reshuffle unlikely to result in wholesale changes

Taiwan is expected to reshuffle its cabinet tomorrow but to keep most of its members, in a move almost certain to trigger another political storm.

While several members, including Secretary General Hsueh Hsiang-chuan, will be replaced, most others, including Premier Liu Chao-shiuan and Vice-Premier Paul Chiu Cheng-hsiung, are expected to stay on.

The planned personnel change was announced last month by President Ma Ying-jeou as outrage was peaking over the government's poor performance in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot last month.

The typhoon triggered flash floods and rock and mud slides that levelled at least six mountain villages in the south. As of Saturday, 683 people were confirmed dead, and 75 were still missing.

Ma was forced to declare on August 18 that personnel changes would be made to punish negligence. Taiwanese media speculated that those who might step down included Hsueh, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Andrew Hsia Li-yan and Defence Minister Chen Chao-min - all of whom have offered their resignations to take the blame for the disaster.

Hsia offered to resign for rejecting foreign aid, and Chen took the blame for failing to swiftly order army rescue and search missions. Hsueh offered to resign for having dinner with his family as Morakot was about to hit Taiwan on August 8.

Reports said Hsueh might be replaced by either State Minister Tsai Hsun-hsiung or Ou Chin-teh, a former vice-mayor of Taipei and a confidant of Ma. The media also speculated that Defence Vice-Minister Chang Liang-jen could replace Chen. Both Liu and his deputy, Chiu, were expected to stay on.