Lai cabinet

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Lai cabinet
Flag of Taiwan.svg
49th premiership of the ROC Taiwan
2019Nian 1Yue 11Ri Xing Zheng Yuan Lin Shi Yuan Hui Nei Ge Zong Ci Hou He Ying .jpg
Lai cabinet in 2019
Date formed8 September 2017 (2017-09-08)
Date dissolved11 January 2019 (2019-01-11)
People and organisations
Head of state Tsai Ing-wen
Head of government William Lai Ching-te
Deputy head of government Shih Jun-ji
Total no. of members?
Member parties Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Status in legislatureDPP majority, pan-green majority
Opposition parties Kuomintang
Opposition leader Johnny Chiang
History
Election 2016 Taiwanese legislative election
Legislature term Ninth Legislative Yuan
Predecessor Lin cabinet
Successor Second Su cabinet

History

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]

Contents

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

Leaders

NameLeader
English nameChinese
Premier 院長 Lai Ching-te Lai Qing De Shi Chang .jpg
Vice Premier 副院長 Shih Jun-ji Shi Jun Ji Fu Yuan Chang .jpg
Secretary-General 秘書長 Cho Jung-tai Zhuo Rong Tai Zhu Ren Xiao Xiang .jpg

Ministries

NameMinister
English nameChinese
Interior 內政部 Hsu Kuo-yung Hsu Kuo-Yung-02 - by Zil Chang (cropped).jpg
Foreign Affairs 外交部 Joseph Wu Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu (cropped).jpg
National Defense 國防部 Yen Teh-fa Guo Fang Bu Chang Yan De Fa .jpg
Finance 財政部 Su Jain-rong Jain-Rong,Su (cropped).jpg
Education 教育部 Yao Leeh-ter (acting) Kao Shi Wei Yuan Yao Li De Xiao Xiang .jpg
Justice 法務部 Tsai Ching-hsiang Cai Qing Xiang Bu Chang .jpg
Economic Affairs 經濟部 Shen Jong-chin Chen Rong Jin Bu Chang .jpg
Transportation and Communications 交通部 Wang Kwo-tsai (acting) 20190112Wang Guo Cai jpg.jpg
Labor 勞動部 Hsu Ming-chun Lao Dong Bu Bu Chang Xu Ming Chun Xiao Xiang .jpg
Health and Welfare 衛生福利部 Chen Shih-chung Chen Shi Zhong Bu Chang Xiao Xiang .jpg
Culture 文化部 Cheng Li-chun Zheng Li Jun Fu Yuan Chang .jpg
Science and Technology 科技部 Chen Liang-gee Chen Liang-Ji (cropped).jpg

Councils and Commissions

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
NameChair
English nameChinese

Council of Agriculture

農業委員會 Chen Chi-chung (acting) Chen Ji Zhong Zhu Ren Wei Yuan .jpg
National Development Council 國家發展委員會 Chen Mei-ling Xin Ren Xing Zheng Yuan Mi Shu Chang Chen Mei Ling  (cropped).jpg
Mainland Affairs Council 大陸委員會 Chen Ming-tong Chen Ming Tong Zhu Ren Wei Yuan .jpg
Financial Supervisory Commission 金融監督管理委員會 Wellington Koo Koo Li-Hsiung-1-by Ring Chang (cropped).JPG
Ocean Affairs Council 海洋委員會 Hwung Hwung-hweng Master-oac-01.jpg
Overseas Community Affairs Council 僑務委員會 Wu Hsin-hsing Wu Hsin-hsing Wu Xin Xing  (Voice of America (VOA) Image Mei Guo Zhi Yin Tu Xiang ED1D80CC-53FD-487C-A718-F81A79C2C0EF w650 r0 s).jpg
Veterans Affairs Council 國軍退除役官兵輔導委員會 Chiu Kuo-cheng Guo Fang Bu Chang Qiu Guo Zheng .png
Council of Indigenous Peoples 原住民族委員會 Icyang Parod Icyang Parod at Indigenous Historical Justice and Transitional Justice Committee 20161227.jpg
Hakka Affairs Council 客家委員會 Lee Yung-te Xing Zheng Yuan Li Yong De Zheng Wu Wei Yuan Xiao Xiang .jpg

Public Construction Commission

公共工程委員會 Wu Tze-cheng Picture of (Wu Ze-cheng, sometimes Wu Tze-cheng) from the website of the Yilan County Government.jpg

Atomic Energy Council

原子能委員會 Hsieh Shou-shing Yuan Neng Hui Zhu Wei Xie Xiao Xing .jpg

Independent Commissions

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.

NameChair
English nameChinese
Central Election Commission 中央選舉委員會 Chen Chao-chien (acting) Chen Zhao Jian Fu Zhu Ren Wei Yuan .jpg
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 Li Fa Yuan Jiao Tong Wei Yuan Hui Jiu Xin Ren Guo Jia Tong Xun Chuan Bo Wei Yuan Hui Bei Ti Ming Ren Jin Xing Shen Cha  (cropped).jpg

Other organs

  To become a ministry
  To be merged into other organs
NameLeader
English nameChinese

Environmental Protection Administration

環境保護署 Tsai Hung-teh (acting)
Central Bank 中央銀行 Yang Chin-long Yang Xing Zong Cai Yang Jin Long .jpg
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

  1. Chow, Jermyn (4 September 2017). "Taiwan Premier Lin Chuan resigns, Tainan city mayor William Lai reported to be successor". The Straits Times.
  2. "William Lai appointed premier". The China Post. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  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. "William Lai explains stance on Taiwan independence in first Legislative Yuan appearance". The China Post. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  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.