No Cabinet plans for full rollout of Chiang Kai-shek road name changes

Taipei, June 5 (CNA) The Executive Yuan has no immediate plans to mandate the renaming of roads bearing the name of late leader Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Thursday, in the wake of opposition from some local government chiefs.

While removing symbols related to Chiang Kai-shek and the late former President Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) is important for Taiwan's transitional justice, the decision to change road names should be left to local governments and their residents, Cho said during a weekly Cabinet meeting.

Cho said that since local governments across Taiwan must consult their citizens on the issue, the Cabinet has no plans to enforce a full rollout of the name changes.

Cho added that changing road names is not a key priority for the current government. Instead, attention should focus on the next steps after funds are unfrozen by the central government, as well as the administration's plans for national security and the economy.

The issue of renaming roads named after the Chiangs has drawn public attention recently after the Ministry of the Interior said it has commissioned a study into the issue.

The MOI, however, stressed that it will not enforce changes until there is broader consensus across the nation.

Local government leaders are divided on changing names, with opposition Kuomintang officials publicly opposing it, while ruling Democratic Progressive Party politicians support the move.