Frank Wu announces resignation as SEF chairman

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Frank Wu (吳豊山) announced Thursday that he will step down at the end of the year.

Wu made the announcement during a joint board meeting, saying he will remain in office until the afternoon of Dec. 31 and that it was his last time presiding over the meeting.

The SEF is a semi-official organization tasked by Taiwan's government with handling technical matters involving China.

According to Wu, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with him on Dec. 12 to discuss personnel matters at the foundation and, out of consideration for the president's staffing plans, he agreed to step aside.

Wu assumed the SEF chairmanship after being elected by its board of directors and supervisors on Nov. 4 last year and has served in the role for 13 months.

According to information previously published on the SEF website, he served as editor-in-chief and president of the Independence Evening Post for a total of 18 years. He was also elected twice as a National Assembly representative and has held other positions, including chairman of Public Television Service, minister without portfolio in the Executive Yuan, and Control Yuan member.

There is currently no information on who will succeed him.