THE upcoming Cabinet shuffle in Taipei opens prospects that direct transport links between Taiwan and the mainland may be established sooner than expected.
President Lee Teng-hui and premier Lien Chan, in their capacities as Kuomintang chairman and vice-chairman, are expected to submit the first wave of new appointments to the ruling party's Central Standing Committee today.
After approval, the Executive Yuan's new line-up will probably be formally promulgated by Mr Lien tomorrow.
In a transfer showing Taipei's growing focus on trade across the straits, Mr Vincent Siew, now chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), will probably be named chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which co-ordinates policy toward China.
Mr Siew, a 54-year-old Taiwan native, has served in several posts in the economics affairs and foreign ministries.
He was minister of economic affairs for three years before becoming CEPD chairman in March last year.
