New Blood Added to National Security Council

New Blood Added to National Security Council

Sources: All Taipei newspapers

May 10, 2010

The National Security Council (NSC) last week completed a personnel shuffle. Liu Chih-kung, representative to the Czech Republic, and Ko Kuang-yue, former vice commander of the Air Force, were appointed as deputy secretaries general. In addition, three of the six advisory members were replaced.

According to sources close to the National Security Council, the most significant characteristic of the personnel shake-up was that people with long-term practical experience replaced people with mainly academic backgrounds. The changes revealed the pragmatism of Victor Wei-jen Hu, NSC Secretary General, who succeeded Su Chi in the post last February.

Among the newly-appointed advisory members, i.e., Wang Yu-chi, Tung Kuo-yu, and Yuan Kuei-sheng, Wang is widely known from his previous job as President Ma Ying-jeou’s spokesman. The news report disclosed that Wang would become President Ma’s close political advisor. High-ranking officials stated that in the future, apart from external relations such as foreign affairs and cross-Strait relations, the National Security Council would also focus on internal affairs, stressing their link to society.

Tung is a career diplomat, who had previously served as representative to Greece and lately as deputy representative to the US. Yuan previously served as a major general in charge of information at the office of the Defense Ministry.

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