President Chen Shui-bian announced on the morning of January 19, 2006 that former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Su Tseng-chang is to be the next premier. He said that Premier Frank Hsieh's team has worked very hard and done an excellent job in the past year, for which the President indicated his heartfelt appreciation and affirmation.
Following is a synopsis of the content of his talk:
First, I would like to offer my thanks to Frank Hsieh and the members of the executive team he has led in the past year for their hard work and excellence. Allow me to take the time to express my gratitude and affirmation of their accomplishments.
In the past year, under the most vicious possible of political circumstances Hsieh was able to lead the executive branch assiduously and steadfastly under the expectations of high-browed society and under the heavy weight of political pressure. In that one-year period, Taiwan's economy remained stable and the trade reached a new historical height. Per capita gross domestic product reached US$15,000 and unemployment hit a five-year low, allowing Taiwan to keep its position as the number one most competitive nation Asia-wide. He was capable of maintaining a flourishing economy and raising Taiwan's competitiveness. He was able to guard social fairness and justice, implement a new system for persons with disadvantages, implement tax reform, make retirement benefits for retired military personnel, civil servants, and teachers more reasonable and improve agricultural subsidies. He was able to move aside innumerable difficulties to implement major reforms and welfare programs in an orderly fashion.
When he first took office, Frank Hsieh used a soft and self-effacing approach to put forth his concept of "reconciliation and co-existence" with the hope of ending the stalemate between opposing forces that was causing a drain on resources. What is regretful is that the opposition party headed toward China in that year. The party chairman change also caused a jolt. In addition, the three-in-one election has shrunk the local representation of the pan-green alliance in favor of the pan-blue alliance, making it difficult for the central government to extend its influence. That central government power has experienced unprecedented constriction in the 2006 budget cut is the obvious and extreme killer of Frank Hsieh's "reconciliation and co-existence" advocacy.
The opposition party has offered very little room for cooperation, utilizing barbaric force to do its damage. National development, welfare of the people and normal running of government have been negatively affected. This has been difficult for the Executive Yuan to bear. Legal experts have pointed out that this behavior has violated the rights of the executive and examination branches of government, and have said that opposition moves have gone so far as to violate the Constitution itself, clearly making these moves invalid. As a result, different government agencies and persons working in the ruling party and people from different walks of life have different considerations and concerns on whether re-consideration of the issues should be raised or the chance of its success in such an attempt.
Presently, we must consider: is it worth it to keep on fighting when a stalemate is clearly inevitable? Won't this just emerge in greater erosion of executive power thus leading to chaos and further denigration of executive government? Is the demand for re-consideration of the issue the only conduit for addressing how to bolster budget deficiencies? A-Bian and Frank Hsieh are both intimately aware of the convoluting variables involved and we have deeply explored our opinions on them. A-Bian is not only in agreement with Frank Hsieh's decision to remain unwavering, but I can go so far as to offer my greatest respect and deepest thanks to him. The mandate and difficult mission that Frank Hsieh has left behind, we leave it to another exemplary DPP party member, Su Tseng-chang, and the future task force, to bear.
At the local and at the central level and as a key party member, Su Tseng-chang has been a champion of Taiwan from beginning to end, having served as a provincial councilman, Pingtung County magistrate, legislator, Taipei County magistrate, presidential secretary-general and chairman of the DPP. His impressive achievements and abundant support network have been like a firebrand for the party. His combative stamina, his wisdom, and his character have passed the toughest tests, so A-Bian is confident in his administration and he has the highest level of expectations of him and utmost faith in him.
I made it clear in my New Year address that we are to consolidate Taiwan's national identity, defend national security, persist in democratic reforms, sustain economic development, maintain social justice, improve public safety, ensure social order and enhance good governance with honesty and integrity as the primary axes in policy implementation. The future executive team must work together and work hand-in-hand to realize the ultimate goal of Taiwan. We look forward to a new Cabinet who will be able to define clear policies to the people with obvious goal posts and may keep strictly to Total Quality Management principles as they put forth their major policies.
There is a saying I am sure you have all heard before, "The script of life has already been written, but there is no way to read ahead, you just have to launch an all-out effort as you go." In the same vein, I believe that if we just act out our part as best as we can, Taiwan's future and her destiny is in the hands of her 23 million people. No party or individual can make our decisions for us. Do not allow Taiwan's future to be a tragedy and the future of Taiwan can not be ruined by a few naysayers. Believe in Taiwan and persist with reforms. As long as you have the heart to do it, you will succeed in your brave endeavor. I anticipate the new Cabinet will be able to fearlessly face difficulties and persist to the very end so that we may all be proud of Taiwan and give a winning performance!