Lai cabinet

49th premiership of the ROC Taiwan
Portrait photograph of the Premier, William Lai
Date formed8 September 2017 (2017-09-08)
Date dissolved11 January 2019 (2019-01-11)
People and organisations
Head of stateTsai Ing-wen
Head of governmentWilliam Lai Ching-te
Deputy head of governmentShih Jun-ji
Total no. of members?
Member partiesDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Status in legislatureDPP majority, pan-green majority
Opposition partiesKuomintang
Opposition leaderJohnny Chiang
History
Election2016 Taiwanese legislative election
Legislature termNinth Legislative Yuan
PredecessorLin cabinet
SuccessorSecond Su cabinet

History

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On 3 September 2017, Premier Lin Chuan tendered his resignation to President Tsai Ing-wen, which was reluctantly accepted. A recent poll showed Lin's approve rating to be a mere 28.7%, with 6 in 10 respondents dissatisfied with the performance of his cabinet.[1] On 5 September President Tsai announced at a press conference that Lai would become the country's next head of the Executive Yuan, with the Premier-designate saying that running the government is like running in a relay race, and he vowed to take the baton from Lin and complete his unfinished major policies.[2]

Lai took office on 8 September as the 49th Premier of the Republic of China. On 17 September following Lai's appointment as premier, Tsai's approval ratings reached 46%, rebounding by more than 16 points since August.[3] Lai made his first appearance as premier at the Legislative Yuan on 26 September, where he stated "I am a political worker who advocates Taiwan independence" but that "We are already an independent sovereign nation called the Republic of China. We don't need a separate declaration of independence". Lai has appeared to have moderated his position on Taiwanese independence particularly when he proposed the idea of "being close to China while loving Taiwan" in June 2017. He also expressed no desire to run against Tsai Ing-wen in the 2020 presidential election.[4] On 28 September the New Party called on the KMT to join it in filing a formal complaint against the Premier for sedition.[5]

Lai's cabinet resigned on 11 January 2019.[6] His cabinet was succeeded by the second cabinet of Su Tseng-chang.

Members

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Leaders

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Name Leader
English Name Chinese
Premier 院長 Lai Ching-te  
Vice Premier 副院長 Shih Jun-ji  
Secretary-General 秘書長 Cho Jung-tai  

Ministries

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Name Minister
English Name Chinese
Interior 內政部 Hsu Kuo-yung  
Foreign Affairs 外交部 Joseph Wu  
National Defense 國防部 Yen Teh-fa  
Finance 財政部 Su Jain-rong  
Education 教育部 Yao Leeh-ter (acting)  
Justice 法務部 Tsai Ching-hsiang  
Economic Affairs 經濟部 Shen Jong-chin  
Transportation and Communications 交通部 Wang Kwo-tsai (acting)  
Labor 勞動部 Hsu Ming-chun  
Health and Welfare 衛生福利部 Chen Shih-chung  
Culture 文化部 Cheng Li-chun  
Science and Technology 科技部 Chen Liang-gee  

Councils and Commissions

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Empowered by various laws, or even the Constitution, under the Executive Yuan Council several individual boards are formed to enforce different executive functions of the government. Unless regulated otherwise, the chairs are appointed by and answer to the Premier. The committee members of the boards are usually (a) governmental officials for the purpose of interdepartmental coordination and cooperation; or (b) creditable professionals for their reputation and independence.

  To become a ministry
  To be merged into other organs
Name Chair
English Name Chinese

Council of Agriculture

農業委員會 Chen Chi-chung (acting)  
National Development Council 國家發展委員會 Chen Mei-ling  
Mainland Affairs Council 大陸委員會 Chen Ming-tong  
Financial Supervisory Commission 金融監督管理委員會 Wellington Koo  
Ocean Affairs Council 海洋委員會 Hwung Hwung-hweng  
Overseas Community Affairs Council 僑務委員會 Wu Hsin-hsing  
Veterans Affairs Council 國軍退除役官兵輔導委員會 Chiu Kuo-cheng  
Council of Indigenous Peoples 原住民族委員會 Icyang Parod  
Hakka Affairs Council 客家委員會 Lee Yung-te  

Public Construction Commission

公共工程委員會 Wu Tze-cheng  

Atomic Energy Council

原子能委員會 Hsieh Shou-shing  

Independent Commissions

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There are, or would be, independent executive commissions under the Executive Yuan Council. The chiefs of these five institutions would not be affected by any change of the Premier. However, the related organic laws are currently under revision.

Name Chair
English Name Chinese
Central Election Commission 中央選舉委員會 Chen Chao-chien (acting)  
Fair Trade Commission 公平交易委員會 Huang Mei-ying
National Communications Commission 國家通訊傳播委員會 Chan Ting-I  

Other organs

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  To become a ministry
  To be merged into other organs
Name Leader
English Name Chinese

Environmental Protection Administration

環境保護署 Tsai Hung-teh (acting)
Central Bank 中央銀行 Yang Chin-long  
National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 Chen Chi-nan
Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics 主計總處 Chu Tzer-ming
Directorate-General of Personnel Administration 人事行政總處 Jay N. Shih

References

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  1. ^ hermesauto (4 September 2017). "Taiwan Premier Lin Chuan resigns, Tainan city mayor William Lai reported to be successor".
  2. ^ http://m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2017/09/05/500178/William-Lai.htm [dead link]
  3. ^ "Taiwan's new premier revitalizes President Tsai's fortunes- Nikkei Asian Review". asia.nikkei.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-03.
  4. ^ http://m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2017/09/26/500362/William-Lai.htm [dead link]
  5. ^ "New Party mulls Lai complaint - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 29 September 2017.
  6. ^ Lin, Sean (January 12, 2019). "Cabinet resigns as Premier Lai says he has 'no regrets'". Taipei Times. Retrieved January 12, 2019.