Andrew Hsia

Taipei, Feb. 16 (CNA) The Cabinet said Monday it has approved the resignation of Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) as minister of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), and that the vacancy will be filled by Deputy Minister of National Defense Andrew Hsia (夏立言).

Hsia was a career diplomat before he was appointed deputy minister of defense last year.

His former posts include deputy minister of foreign affairs, Taiwan's representative to Indonesia and head of Taiwan's representative office in New York.

Wang tendered his resignation Feb. 10 after he forced his then deputy Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) to quit last August on suspicion of leaking official secrets.

Wang's resignation followed a decision by prosecutors to not indict Chang due to a lack of evidence.

(By Hsieh Chia-chen and Y.F. Low)ENDITEM /pc