Taiwan Announces Five New Cabinet Members Ahead of May 20 Inauguration

Taiwan's premier-designate Cho Jung-tai announced five new Cabinet members on Wednesday who will take office on May 20, including the ministers of labor, health, environment, indigenous peoples, and Hakka affairs. The appointments are part of the fourth wave of personnel changes for the Executive Yuan following President-elect Lai Ching-te's announcement of Cho as the new Premier last week.

Cho named Ho Pei-shan, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as the new Minister of Labor. Chiu Tai-yuan, a former DPP legislator and professor at National Taiwan University College of Medicine, will head the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Meteorologist Peng Chi-ming, known for his weather reports on the WeatherRisk website, was tapped to lead the Ministry of Environment.

For the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Cho selected Tseng Chih-yung, the current director-general of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center. Ku Hsiu-fei, head of the Tainan Hakka Affairs Commission, will take charge of the Hakka Affairs Council at the national level.

Why this matters: The new Cabinet appointments come as Taiwan faces both domestic challenges and a shifting global landscape. The incoming ministers will play key roles in shaping policies related to labor rights, public health, environmental protection, and the preservation of indigenous and Hakka cultures.

Premier-designate Cho highlighted the backgrounds and expertise of the new ministers in their respective fields. He expressed confidence that they will work hard to safeguard public interests and set new milestones for Taiwan's development. Outgoing Environment Minister Shieu Fuh-sheng, who announced his resignation, outlined three priority issues for his successor: implementing Taiwan's new carbon fee system, reducing plastic use, and addressing the nation's waste processing challenges.

Taiwan is also considering legislative measures to ban the importation of goods produced using forced labor, similar to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed by the US Congress in 2021. The new Cabinet members will be tasked with navigating these complex issues as they assume their posts next month.

Key Takeaways

• Taiwan's premier-designate Cho Jung-tai announced 5 new Cabinet members.
• New ministers include labor, health, environment, indigenous, and Hakka affairs.
• Incoming ministers will shape policies on labor rights, public health, environment.
• Outgoing Environment Minister outlined 3 priority issues for successor.
• Taiwan considering legislation to ban goods made with forced labor.