Taiwan seeks ‘new phase’ of China ties in reshuffle

TAIPEI: Taiwan replaced its China affairs chief Friday, promoting a minister associated with pro-independence politics in what it said was a bid to forge a ‘new phase’ in relations with rival Beijing.

Analysts said the move, part of a major reshuffle, signalled a push by President Tsai Ing-wen to take a more assertive stance as ties with the Chinese government grow increasingly frosty.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified and has cut off official communications with Taipei as Tsai refuses to acknowledge the selfruling, democratic island is part of ‘one China’.

Chen Ming-tong will take over the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) which oversees Taiwan’s relations with China.

He previously served as head of the MAC from 2007 to 2008 under Taiwan’s former president Chen Shui-bian, who was a staunch independence advocate.

“Chen is familiar with cross-strait exchanges...hecanalsocreateanewphase and a new vision in cross-strait affairs by returning to the job,” cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung told reporters.

Presidential secretary-general Joseph Wu, a confidant of Tsai with expertise in international and cross-strait relations, also became the new foreign minister.

The pair replace relatively conservative ministers, indicating Tsai’s intention to take a more bullish approach to crossstrait relations, said Hung Chin-fu, a political analyst at National Cheng Kung University.

“She aims to find a strategic balance, a dynamic equilibrium between the two sides so Taiwan won’t be in a passive situation where it keeps taking punches by China,” he told AFP.

Tsai has pledged to maintain the ‘status quo’ with Beijing but pro-independence politicians in her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have criticised her for not taking a tougher stance.

Ties with Beijing have become increasingly tense since Tsai took office in 2016. Beijing has stepped up the pressure on her government with increased military drills and by wooing away Taiwan’s dwindling number of diplomatic allies. — AFP