Taiwan Cabinet members formally resign to pave way for incoming government

More than 70 Cabinet member in Taiwan have formally resigned to pave way for the new government that will take the oath of office next week.

Premier Simon Chang led the cabinet members in stepping down in the wake of President Ma Ying-jeou’s Nationalist Party loss in presidential and legislative elections in January.

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Chang took up the position after his predecessor Mao Chi-kuo resigned following the election defeat, a common practice in Taiwan when the ruling party loses a presidential poll.

Ma planned to let president-elect Tsai Ing-wen appoint a premier of her choice and form a new government after Mao stood down, but she said she needed more time to prepare for office.

Chang, who formally became premier on February 1, served the shortest term of any Taiwanese premier since KMT troops lost the Chinese civil war against communist forces and relocated to Taiwan in 1949. Mainland China considers Taiwan a breakaway Chinese province that should be reunited with the rest of the country.

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Premier-designate Lin Chuan announced the appointment of more Cabinet members on Thursday, almost completing its lineup.