Ma Ying-jeou names new cross-strait and US envoys
Officials in charge of mainland and US affairs are being replaced in Taiwan by close associates of the president
Taiwan announced a major diplomatic and cross-strait relations reshuffle yesterday, with its top envoy to Beijing planning to step down and officials responsible for mainland and US affairs being replaced by close aides of the Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou.
Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), announced yesterday that he will tender his resignation at a board meeting next week.
The SEF is scheduled to hold a board meeting on September 27 at which Chiang's deputy, Kao Koong-liang, is also expected to tender his resignation. It is expected that the board will name a new chairman at the meeting.
Chiang, 79, said he had made the decision based on his age, physical condition and career plans.
"I wish the untrue and irresponsible slanderous remarks against me and my family members in recent years will be gone with the wind," Chiang said, referring to criticism from opposition parties over his failure to avoid conflicts of interest involving his family's business interests on the mainland while he was the island's top envoy.
Chiang was elected chairman of the SEF in 2008. Since then, he has held eight rounds of talks with Chen and sealed 18 cross-strait agreements, including the landmark Taiwan-China Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement.