Personnel Reshuffle in Presidential Office

 Personnel Reshuffle in Presidential Office

Source: All Taipei Newspapers

Oct 20, 2016

In the latest government reshuffle, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has approved the resignation of Lin Bih-jaw (林碧炤), secretary-general of the Presidential Office, and Yang Kuo-chiang (楊國強), Director of the National Security Bureau (NSB), Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said on Wednesday.

 Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Jason Liu (劉建忻) will act secretary-general until a replacement is named, and Yang will be replaced by former Air Force Commander Peng Sheng-chu (彭勝竹), Huang said.

 According to Huang, although the President tried to dissuade Lin Bih-jaw from stepping down, Lin said he wanted to return to private life and focus on writing.

 However, according to an unnamed informed source, after President Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in on May 20^th, Lin failed to pass judgment on several grave accidents and disputes, during national security meetings, such as the fatal missile misfire by the Navy, which occurred on July 1, and the ICA adjudication on South China Sea issued on July 12. Lin reportedly had trouble fitting in with Tsai’s young team. Rumors that Lin would be replaced have been circulating for some time.  

 In addition to Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC), Tsai Ing-wen reportedly consulted Jason Liu (劉建忻), Yao Jen-to (姚人多) and Chen Chun-lin (陳俊麟) on important issues. Liu and Yao both were Deputy Secretaries-General of the Presidential Office, and Chen was Deputy Secretary-General of the NSC.

 Yang Kuo-chiang, who is regarded as pro-Blue, had been criticized and asked to step down by DPP legislators. Moreover, Yang was reportedly not invited to attend many important meetings on national security issues.  

 The Presidential Office noted that Peng had served as Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau and as Commander of the Air Force.

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