Defence official named Taiwan's new spy chief amid security shake-up

Taiwan has appointed a new spy chief.

Lee Hsiang-chou has become director-general of the National Security Bureau, the Central News Agency reported.

He takes over from Tsai De-sheng who resigned for health reasons. Lee was formerly deputy minister of national defence.

The appointment may have been set in motion as far back as February when King Pu-tsung became chief security adviser to President Ma Ying-jeou, according to one political analyst.

"The reshuffle, apparently orchestrated by King Pu-tsung, is aimed at increasing communication and co-operation within the national security, homeland and intelligence networks," said George Tsai Wei, professor of political science at Chinese Culture University in Taipei.

Tsai believes the arrangement allows the various security agencies to "…deal with the latest situations at home and abroad".

A series of incidents necessitated a security review, said Wei, citing the ramming of the Presidential Office gate by a truck in January and the student-led protests of a trade services pact that witnessed the occupation of the legislature in March and eventually drew half a million sympathisers.