TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) addressed the 53rd Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU, 亞洲太平洋國會議員聯合會) opening ceremony Thursday (Aug. 28), defending his administration's sweeping cabinet reshuffle after more than a year in office. The president emphasized the reorganization's critical importance amid mounting domestic and international pressures facing Taiwan. Lai's remarks came as his government unveiled significant personnel changes affecting multiple agencies.
Lai acknowledged Taiwan faces unprecedented challenges requiring immediate government restructuring and leadership changes. The president outlined his vision for the new cabinet to focus on economic development, citizen welfare, youth opportunities, and support for disadvantaged communities. He expressed optimism that forthcoming policies would better reflect what the Taiwanese public expects from their government.
Lai revealed that most senior party officials have been replaced, with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) spearheading the comprehensive cabinet reorganization. The president announced plans to introduce new members to Taiwan's National Security Council, a key advisory body on defense and foreign policy matters. He expressed confidence that potential legislative caucus leadership elections would better align with public sentiment.
Taiwan's government unveiled the cabinet reshuffle details Wednesday (Aug. 27), revealing extensive personnel changes across 10 agencies involving 16 officials. The reorganization aims to address mounting domestic pressures and international challenges facing the island democracy. Premier Cho presented his new "AI Action Cabinet 2.0" team Thursday morning, highlighting their preparedness to confront Taiwan's evolving technological and geopolitical landscape. ◼