NDC chief resigns amid Cabinet reshuffle due to health issues

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) National Development Council (NDC) chief Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清) has resigned for health reasons amid a Cabinet reshuffle.

In a late-night letter to colleagues after returning from Japan on Tuesday, Liu said he will step down on Friday to focus on treatment.

His resignation followed President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) Aug. 23 announcement of a Cabinet reshuffle, which he said was needed to safeguard key national missions and meet public expectations. The changes have since attracted wide attention.

Liu said he was not on the reshuffle list but felt unwell during the trip, and after consulting with Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), chose to step down.

During his tenure, Liu promoted initiatives including regional development plans, 10 major AI infrastructure projects and the NT$1 trillion National Development Investment Plan.

He said the NDC this week launched a startup blossom project, featuring an alliance and a new platform he called a source of "revolutionary breakthroughs" for Taiwan's startup ecosystem.

Liu also cited the NT$1 trillion National Development Investment Plan as a key fiscal and economic policy set to play an important role next year.

Since taking office, Liu has struggled with health issues, undergoing surgery and losing 7 kilograms in a month. He said he will now focus on finding the cause of his illness and receiving treatment.