Taiwan Names Kaohsiung Mayor As New Premier
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Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has named Frank Hsieh as his new prime minister, who replaces Yu Shyi-kun, who resigned along with the rest of the cabinet at the end of January, in order to pave the way for an expected cabinet reshuffle. Frank Hsieh is a senior member of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, and also mayor of Taiwan's second largest city Kaohsiung. The new premier's main challenge will be in trying to pass new legislation through the opposition-dominated parliament. Ideological disagreements between the government and the opposition resulted in ideological gridlock in the last parliament. The chances of any significant change of policy towards the mainland will be limited if, as expected, Taiwan's defence and foreign affairs ministers retain their positions.