Appointed cabinet and presidential officials take on new roles

Appointed cabinet and presidential officials take on new roles

2025-09-01

On Monday, appointees to various ministerial posts officially took on their new roles. The most high-profile shift was that of the Executive Yuan secretary-general, until now held by incoming Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin. The position was filled by outgoing Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General, Xavier Chang. Meanwhile, Chang’s position was taken by a former official of the DPP, and a reshuffling also took place within the National Security Council. Let’s find out more.

Under the witness of Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun, incoming Executive Yuan Secretary-General Xavier Chang receives the official seal from Kung Ming-hsin, who’s stepping down and taking the post for Minister of Economic Affairs.

Cheng Li-chun
Vice Premier
He’s also an interdisciplinary policy buff. I’ve witnessed how precisely and quickly he takes action. Even though he’s only taking office today, he’s already had so many meetings over the weekend.

Kung Ming-hsin
Incoming Minister of Economic Affairs
The one holding the position as Executive Yuan secretary-general probably signs the largest number of official documents in all of Taiwan. My suggestion to Xavier as secretary-general is that you must keep up with signatures from day to day. If not, then you will have to clock in extra hours on weekends, like I did every weekend.

Xavier Chang
Incoming Executive Yuan secretary-general
I will fulfill the role of secretary-general, the point guard, and implement the head coach’s or the premier’s strategic goals. I will not only quickly fill the zone defense, but also ensure the smooth transition of the fast break. Whether it’s a pick-and-roll or a pass-and-cut, I will pass the ball quickly and accurately to positions that will help the team score.

Chang uses basketball as a metaphor for how he plans to fully implement the premier’s policy goals. As for the premier, who wasn’t on the guest list but made a surprise visit when it was incoming Minister Kung Ming-hsin’s turn onstage, presented the new economics minister with a trophy. The message on the wrapper says, “Putting the economy first is a great responsibility to shoulder,” in respect to the importance of the role.

The cabinet saw a reshuffle, and so did the president’s team.

National Security Council Deputy Secretaries-General Hsu Szu-chien and Liu Te-chin left their posts and assumed the role of advisors for the council. Their vacancies are being filled by Taipei City Councilor Vincent Chao and Presidential Office spokesperson Lii Wen. Chao and Lii will join the incumbent Lin Fei-fan. As for the new Presidential Office deputy secretary-general, left vacant by Xavier Chang, it will be taken over by Cheng Chun-sheng, who once headed the DPP’s public opinion polling center.

Rumor has it that some believe the three deputy secretaries-general are not experienced enough, with all three of them still in their thirties. However, Chao believes age is just a number.

Vincent Chao
Incoming National Security Council deputy secretary-general
Most countries make appointments based on each person’s capabilities and what the job entails. It depends on whether this person can make a contribution, instead of discriminating based on one’s age.

Supporters believe that the new appointments show that opportunities are given to the younger generation, which may make the administration more agile in the face of challenges.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwanpolitics #executiveyuan #presidentialoffice #nationalsecuritycouncil #taiwan

正式上任政院祕書長張惇涵:扮演好"控球後衛角色"

2025-09-01

原任總統副祕書長張惇涵，週一正式出任政院祕書長，他以籃球作為比喻，強調自己會扮演好控衛角色，貫徹總教練，也就是卓院長的戰略目標，讓台灣與人民都獲得勝利。另外，總統府今天也發布新人事，趙怡翔和李問出任國安會副祕書長，兩人將與原任的林飛帆，一同協助祕書長吳釗燮。

在行政院副院長鄭麗君見證下，張惇涵從龔明鑫手中接下印信，正式出任行政院祕書長。

[[行政院副院長鄭麗君]]
“他(張惇涵)也是一位跨領域的政策控。我也見證他精準快速的行動力，今天才上任，週末已經開了很多會。”

[[新任經濟部長龔明鑫]]
“大概全台灣的公文應該是，這個職務(政院祕書長)是簽最多的，我要跟惇涵祕書長建議一下就是說，平常就要簽，你若平常不簽的話，你週末要來加班，就像我一樣，每個週末都要來加班。”

[[新任行政院祕書長張惇涵]]
“我會做好祕書長這個控球後衛的角色，貫徹執行院長，總教練的戰略目標。不只會讓區域聯防迅速補位，也會讓轉換快攻推進有序，無論是擋切或傳切，我都會把球快速、精準，傳向讓團隊得分有利的位置。”

以籃球做比喻，喊話會徹底執行總教練意志，而這位總教練原本不在出席名單內，會中驚喜現身，並致贈"經濟優先、任重道遠"的獎牌，感謝新任經濟部長龔明鑫。

內閣小幅改組，國安團隊也有異動。

原任國安會副祕書長徐斯儉與劉得金，轉任國安會諮詢委員，遺缺由北市議員趙怡翔和府發言人李問接下，而張惇涵留下的府副祕書長職缺，由前民進黨民調中心主任鄭俊昇擔任，趙怡翔與李問加入國安會，和林飛帆一同擔任副祕書長。

不過趙、李、林三人年紀都在36、37歲左右，被質疑是否太過年輕，趙怡翔這樣說。

[[新任國安會副祕書長趙怡翔]]
“大部分的國家都會是以大家的能力，工作的內容大家是不是能貢獻付出，作為一個人適不適合的一些主要條件，不會將年齡作為一個主要的區別。”

府院人事年輕化，新隊形就位，應對當前的艱困挑戰。

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To expand business cooperation between Taiwan and the US, TAITRA for the first time held its annual US Business Day event in the US. Thirty Taiwanese importers— including Kuai Kuai, Kanpai, Wah Lee Industrial, and Everlight Chemical—met with 55 US suppliers for over 100 face-to-face meetings. As Taiwan looks to balance trade with the US, TAITRA said Taiwan must first extend goodwill and create a mutually beneficial model for bilateral trade between the countries.

Thirty Taiwanese importers gather to meet with 55 suppliers from the US in this massive business event organized by TAITRA. It’s the first time US Business Day is being held in the US. Even Taiwan’s favorite snack brand, Kuai Kuai, made an appearance.

Liu Yu
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Apart from finding some suitable suppliers, we’re also here to promote Kuai Kuai. There’s actually no limit, because we don’t just partner with snack food suppliers. We don’t set any limits on what kind of cooperation we might have.

Other Taiwanese enterprises like Wah Lee, Everlight Chemical, and Kanpai are seeking purchase agreements with American processed food, biotech, pharmaceutical, chemical, electrical, and electronic component firms in search of industrial breakthroughs. Heavyweights like North America’s largest dehydrated potato supplier, a boutique coffee brand, and a sterilization system maker were all in attendance.

Lee Cheng
Wah Lee Industrial Corp
If you buy ingredients from here, of course there won’t be any tariff limitations. It would also increase our products’ competitiveness. Since we already have an office set up in the US, of course we hope to buy local. To us, there are more advantages.

Albert J. Favero
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This is the first time we’ve come to the symposium by the Taiwanese companies. We’re just learning a little bit about what our opportunities might be with companies coming to America from Taiwan.

Ravi Menon
Polyvantis EVP of specialties
I think this is a great initiative to start connecting the folks in Asia very closely to folks that are manufacturing in the US. We have been working with Taiwanese companies for the last 50 years. It’s a very long-term relationship that we have had with our Taiwanese partners, and we only see that growing and becoming bigger going forward.

Unlike past years when US buyers came to meet with Taiwanese suppliers, this time, Taiwanese firms are actively placing orders with US suppliers to demonstrate their sincerity in cooperating with efforts to balance the bilateral trade relationship, as urged by President Trump.

James Huang
TAITRA chair
In the future, we’ll also invite overseas suppliers to come to Taiwan for negotiations with our domestic buyers. This is complete, two-way matchmaking between suppliers and purchasers.

Shifting purchasing strategies can help avoid tariff barriers and take advantage of Taiwan’s trade imbalance with the US to create a win-win situation for both sides.

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Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Single resident reports 2,800 traffic violations in Changhua

It’s important to obey traffic regulations, as you never know who could be watching. The Changhua County Police Bureau received over 70,000 traffic violation reports from January to August this year. One lone vigilante reported 2,800 cases, an average of 12 reports per day.

These are photos of traffic violations, each of which costs the offender no small fine. With technology used to enforce the law these days, there are always cameras watching traffic. In Changhua County, even locals can report violations.

In this case, the driver turned without using a turn signal, which is punishable by a fine of at least NT$1,200. The Changhua County Police Bureau received over 70,000 traffic violation reports from January to August this year, with one vigilante reporting 2,800 cases alone.

Chen Wen-lung
Police officer
The bureau has received a total of 76,510 traffic violation reports this year, with 54,586 becoming official cases. Among them, the most reports by a single person was over 2,800.

This level of traffic reporting even surprised police. For a single person to report over 2,800 cases, they would have to report about 12 per day. This traffic vigilante must always be looking for violations to report.

Member of public
It’s too much, I don’t think it’s necessary to do that.

Member of public
I think this person has too much time on their hands. In the city this kind of thing is inevitable, so there’s no need to report on it every single day.

Member of public
It can be frustrating, but it’s okay as long as you don’t break the rules.

Even though there’s no reward for reporting violations, people are still motivated to do so. According to the police, the top three traffic violations are failure to use turn signals as required, entering an oncoming lane against regulations, and disobeying traffic markings.

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Personal shoppers expect NT$100,000 profits for Mid-Autumn pastry sales

Every year before Mid-Autumn Festival, a famous shop selling salted egg yolk pastries in Changhua sees extremely long lines. To ease the wait this year, the shop is differentiating between those buying on behalf of others and individual customers in order to prevent conflict. As the holiday approaches, it’s getting more expensive to hire a personal shopper. Just from the holiday alone, they can expect to make nearly NT$100,000 in a month.

The time has come once again for a line of waiting customers to appear outside of this famous Changhua joint for egg yolk pastries. But unlike previous years, this time there are two separate lines: one for those buying on others’ behalf, and one for those purchasing for themselves. This way, the few individual shoppers won’t find they’re sold out before they even get to the front.

Customer
The phone call isn’t going through. I’ve already called a bunch of times.

Customer
I came at 7am. We usually don’t think about hiring someone to come. You have to have the determination.

Casual customers are willing to go through the trouble of waiting in line themselves to avoid spending even more money for someone to go in their place. The two separate lines seem to be moving along smoothly, keeping the process orderly and preventing conflict. As Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the price to hire someone to buy pastries is going up. Six pastries that originally would have cost NT$300 are now NT$380, or even up to NT$500 online.

Purchasing agent
Business is good over the Mid-Autumn Festival. In one month, I can make NT$100,000 give or take.

Business over the holiday is booming for those willing to wait in line, earning them up to NT$100,000 in just one month. This bakery is not only creating business for itself, but can also make sure the personal shoppers are well taken care of. As long as there’s a market need, there will be people there to fill the gap.

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A woman desperately pushes forward a car, which has broken down on the inside lane of the freeway. She’s trying every way possible.

She uses all her might. She might not be Wonder Woman, but she managed to move it forward a few meters. People were shocked a petite woman such as her would even try.

Member of public
How can a single person even make it budge? One girl alone can’t do it. And you need someone at the steering wheel.

Member of public
Even on neutral, it’d be hard for a woman to push it.

So what about a big muscular man willing to take on a challenge? We got a 1.6 ton car on neutral to put him to the test.

Tseng Hung-wen
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I just used every ounce of strength I have and I couldn’t make it move even an inch. Let’s see how many women it would take to make it move.

Two young women join forces to get the car moving. But no matter whether it’s possible to make the car move or not, doing so on the freeway is a no-no.

Member of public
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It’s reckless, super dangerous. I would’ve called a repair shop.

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Starting from noon, we’ve already witnessed the two very famous NBA stars present here. Soon after that, they arrived here at Zhuwei for our Pearl Coast Music Festival. They’re here to interact with basketball fans again, and just moments ago they were on stage to interact with music fans.

It was a delightful weekend at Zhuwei Fishing Harbor, with catchy music, tasty snacks and great fun by the sea.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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