New Taiwan Premier picks cabinet
Taiwan's new premier has picked his cabinet in a reshuffle President Ma Ying-jeou hopes will renew public support after it plunged over the government's handling of Typhoon Morakot.
Incoming Premier Wu Den-yih announced several key changes to the old lineup late on Wednesday, two days after his predecessor Liu Chao-shiuan announced that he and his Cabinet would resign.
The resignation came amid public anger over the government's slow response to the most devastating storm to hit the island in 50 years.
Mr Wu said Taiwanese representative to Indonesia Timothy Yang will replace Foreign Minister Francisco Ou, while Veterans Affairs Commission Minister General Kao Hua-chu will take over from General Chen Chao-min and assume duties as defence minister.
Mr Ou came under heavy criticism for initially rejecting offers of foreign aid after the typhoon hit, and Gen Chen was chastised for the military's slow response in dispatching troops to help rescue typhoon victims.
Other changes include Shih Yen-shiang, the chairman of state oil enterprise CPC Corporation, replacing Yiin Chii-ming as minister of economic affairs, and Minister without Portfolio Tsai Hsung-hsiung taking over from Chen Tain-Jy at the council for economic planning and development.
Mr Tsai also retains his previous job.
Mr Ma named the 61-year-old Mr Wu as the new premier on Monday.