Summary
Taiwan’s prime minister has resigned, citing poor health. While Tang Fei has certainly been ill, the real reason for his departure may have more to do with politics than his physical condition. Tang has been a link between the new ruling party and the opposition Kuomintang. Taiwan’s president, Chen Shui-bian, appears confident he can handle relations with the opposition party and the country’s military.
Analysis
Taiwan premier Tang Fei resigned Oct. 3, citing ill health. Most media attention has focused on Tang, who is a member of the Kuomintang party (KMT), and his differences with the ruling Democratic People's Party (DPP) over the construction of a nuclear power plant. But it appears that Tang's motivations for his resignation are, and have been, genuinely health-related. However, President Chen Shui-bian's motivations for accepting the resignation are very much political.
The key is that President Chen Shui-bian has accepted Tang's resignation -- something he has been unwilling to do in the past. Chen brought Tang into the government this spring in order to act as a link between Chen's DPP and the KMT, which had ruled Taiwan since its founding. Tang's military background, he acted as defense minister and air force chief, also served to calm the armed forces' fears about Chen's pro-independence stance.
Letting Tang resign suggests that Chen feels fairly comfortable about his relations with the military, and less comfortable about tensions within his own party.
Sixty-eight year old Tang was plagued by health problems before he even took the office of premier. The former defense minister had a chest tumor removed in April, and was barely able to attend the presidential inauguration. Frequently complaining about dizzy spells, Tang was hospitalized in May and August.
Tang only accepted the premiership grudgingly, and tried to resign in May -- but Chen would not accept it. Tang tried again in late July, citing a feeling of responsibility for botched rescue attempts during a flood. Again, Chen kept him aboard.
But Chen apparently feels that Tang has become more of a liability than an asset. Chen's administration has been taking fire from Chen's own party, which accuses him of betraying their platform. Wu Nai-jen, secretary-general of the DPP, has singled out Tang in particular, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.
Chen wouldn't have let Tang leave unless he felt comfortable with the military, which is tied to the KMT, and is none to keen about the DPP. But Chen seemed to gain the upper hand this summer when he spearheaded a series of major investigations into corrupt weapons procurement practices. Thirteen military officers and 15 arms brokers were jailed, two retired generals were detained, and ten other high-ranking officers -- including a former naval commander-in-chief -- were questioned in Taiwan's largest anti-corruption drive in years.
Vice Premier Chang Chun-hsiung, a veteran politician and Chen's right-hand man is tabbed to replace Tang. Chang has only served as vice-premier since July, but spent 17 years as a legislator -- experience that should serve him well as he leads the parliament. Chang's appointment will douse complaints within the party. But he will have a difficult time maintaining control over the 123 KMT legislators that make up over half of the 225 seat parliament. The result will be even greater political accommodation on the part of the DPP.
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