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Reuters

The identity of Taiwan's next top mainland policymaker appears uncertain, with the island's President Ma Ying-jeou yet to accept the resignation of Wang Yu-chi.
Wang quit as chairman of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council on Tuesday after his accusation against his former deputy of leaking information related to cross-strait talks with Beijing was rejected by prosecutors.
The prosecutors cleared the deputy, Chang Hsien-yao, of wrongdoing, ruling there was no concrete evidence against him.
Wang appears determined to resign and maintains that Chang's alleged act threatened the island's security.
But the Presidential Office said yesterday that Ma had yet to accept the resignation of Wang, his close confidant.

Taiwanese pundits say that if Wang steps down there will be a period of uncertainty over cross-strait relations.
"It will take the newcomer a certain amount of time to familiarise himself with cross-strait affairs before he can hold talks with his mainland counterpart, Zhang Zhijun," said political science Professor George Tsai Wei, from Chinese Culture University in Taipei.
Local media said the deputy minister of defence, Andrew Hsia Li-yan, might succeed Wang as the council chairman if Wang insisted on leaving.
Hsia, a veteran foreign affairs expert, had served the foreign ministry for decades before becoming deputy defence minister in October 2013. Critics have questioned his ability to take on the cross-strait affairs portfolio.
In Beijing, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, however, said Wang's resignation would not affect the normalisation of ties, which has gathered momentum since 2008.
Ma Xiaoguang said: "We believe that personnel changes ought not affect the [channels of communication]."
Additional reporting by Reuters


Resignation of Taiwan official amid spying row ‘won’t harm ties with Beijing’

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-chi announces his resignation. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang says changes in personnel will not affect relations. Photo: SCMP

Taiwan’s top official handling ties with mainland quits over ‘spying’ row

Mainland Affairs Council chairman Wang Yu-chi. Photo: AFP

News

China

Policymaker for mainland relations appears determined to quit; president 'yet to accept' this


The identity of Taiwan's next top mainland policymaker appears uncertain, with the island's President Ma Ying-jeou yet to accept the resignation of Wang Yu-chi.


Resignation of Taiwan official amid spying row ‘won’t harm ties with Beijing’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Policymaker for mainland relations appears determined to quit; president 'yet to accept' this

Policymaker for mainland relations appears determined to quit; president 'yet to accept' this