James Huang (黃志芳), a foreign minister under former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), will become Taiwan’s representative to Singapore, the state-run Central News Agency (CNA) reported today on its Chinese-language service.

Huang, a former director of the Department of International Affairs at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who currently heads President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) New Southbound Policy Coordination Office, is to be sent in lieu of Tsai’s initial pick, Antonio Chiang (江春男), who resigned after a drunk driving incident last month.

The Tsai administration has yet to confirm Huang’s appointment. A spokesperson for the Presidential Office said the administration is still planning its personnel appointments. The News Lens International has been unable to independently confirm the report by CNA.

According to local reports, Huang would concurrently act as representative to Singapore and head of Tsai’s New Southbound Policy. A major platform during Tsai’s presidential campaign, the policy seeks to lower Taiwan’s economic dependence on China by diversifying its trade portfolio with South and Southeast Asian neighbors.

First Editor: Olivia Yang
Second Editor: Edward White