TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆), a former deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), has been appointed as the deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council (國安會), according to an announcement on Tuesday (May 14). The news came just days before the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) scheduled for May 20.
New Faces in Key Positions
The transitional team revealed the new appointments on May 14, highlighting a reshuffle in the Taiwanese administration. Xavier Chang (張惇涵) will continue his role as the deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, with Ho Chih-wei (何志偉) joining him in the same capacity.
The spokesperson roles for the Presidential Office will be taken over by former SET News anchor Kuo Ya-hui (郭雅慧) and the DPP's International Affairs Director Lii Wen (李問).
Continuity and Change
While some officials, such as Fu Dong-cheng (傅棟成) and Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光), will retain their advisory roles in the National Security Council, new advisors like Alex Huang (黃重諺), Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成), Lee Yuh-jye (李育杰), and Jiang Huang-chi (姜皇池) are set to join.
Chen Yi-shen (陳儀深), an expert in historical studies, will continue as the director of the National Museum of History(國史館). Additionally, Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) and Liu Te-chin (劉得金) will remain as deputy secretaries-general of the National Security Council.
Meanwhile, Lin Fei-fan, known for his leadership in the Sunflower Student Movement and his high-profile role in the DPP since 2019, has been humorously nicknamed "Lin Jiu-wan" ("Lin ninety-thousand", 林九萬) due to his previous salary of NT$90,000.
Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Wang Hong-wei (王鴻薇) speculated that Lin's move to the National Security Council could significantly increase his salary.
This reshuffle comes at a pivotal moment for Taiwan as the new administration prepares to take office. The appointments reflect a blend of continuity and change, with seasoned officials and new faces coming together to navigate the challenges ahead.