Taiwan reshuffles top defense, intelligence, China affairs officials

ROC Central News Agency

02/19/2021 06:51 PM

Taipei, Feb. 19 (CNA) Taiwan's Presidential Office on Friday announced a reshuffle of three Cabinet-level officials, replacing the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the National Security Bureau and the Mainland Affairs Council.

Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正), director-general of the National Security Bureau, will take over as Minister of Defense, replacing Yen De-fa (嚴德發), who will be given an advisory role on the National Security Council (NSC), Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang (張惇涵) said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) head Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) will succeed Chiu as head of the National Security Bureau, while Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), a former NSC advisor, will lead the MAC, he said.

According to Chang, the adjustments are intended to help Taiwan respond to a new phase in regional and international politics, including the emergence of a different geopolitical situation in the post-pandemic era.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) decided on the changes to her national security team after comprehensively reviewing the situation and consulting with Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), Chang said.

(By Liu Kuan-ting and Matthew Mazzetta)

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