Taiwan names new head of national security in cabinet reshuffle

Tsai Ming-yen takes over the intelligence reins after scandal-hit predecessor resigns ‘to have a good rest’

The appointment is part of a government reorganisation in response to the ruling party’s poor results in November’s local elections

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Taipei is finalising a new line-up of government ministers against the backdrop of a rising military threat from Beijing. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 2:18pm, 27 Jan 2023Updated: 2:43pm, 27 Jan 2023

Taiwan has appointed a new intelligence chief, as part of a cabinet reshuffle prompted by the ruling party’s poor local election results and against the backdrop of a rising military threat from Beijing.

Deputy foreign minister Tsai Ming-yen replaces Chen Ming-tong as head of the National Security Bureau, the island’s Presidential Office announced on Thursday.

“Director-general Chen Ming-tong has tendered his resignation to the president, expressing his desire to have a good rest,” presidential spokesman Xavier Chang said.

Chen was implicated in a high-profile plagiarism scandal involving his former student, ex-Hsinchu mayor Lin Chih-chien, just months before local government elections in November. The Democratic Progressive Party suffered its worst setback in the polls, with much of the blame attributed to the affair.

“The president hopes [new] director general Tsai can use his expertise in regional security, foreign affairs and international strategy to help the national security team make accurate interpretation and decision making for the cross-strait and regional situations,” Chang said.

Taiwan has faced increasing military threats from Beijing, which regards it as part of its territory that must be brought under mainland control, by force if necessary.

In August, the PLA staged unprecedented live-fire drills around the island in retaliation for a visit to Taipei by then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi – a trip seen by Beijing as a violation of its sovereignty.