Ex-NDC head Kung Ming-hsin tapped as economics minister: Source

Taipei, Aug.23 (CNA) Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) has been tapped as the new economics minister, while Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Xavier Chang (張惇涵) has been named to succeed him, according to government sources.

Kung, who headed the National Development Council (NDC) -- Taiwan's top policy-making agency -- from 2020 to 2024 and has served as Cabinet Secretary-General since May 2024, will replace Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝), people familiar with the matter confirmed late Friday.

Kuo, founder of Topco Scientific Co., Ltd., a distributor of semiconductor-related products, has faced criticism and even calls for him to resign over comments deemed inappropriate since he assumed office in May 2024.

On Friday night, the 72-year-old Kuo said in a statement that he had tendered his resignation, citing the toll on his personal health after 15 months in the job.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) confirmed that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had approved Kuo's resignation.

Kuo's replacement comes as Taiwan's economy grapples with 20 percent tariffs imposed by the United States on most goods imported from Taiwan and potential levies on semiconductor and information and communication technology (ICT) products.

Kung, 61, was promoted to key government positions under former President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文), serving as deputy NDC chief between May 2016 and September 2017 and then as deputy economics minister from September 2017 to January 2019.

He headed the NDC and doubled as a minister without portfolio from 2020 to 2024.

Chang, 44, has worked under two presidents, first with Tsai and now with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

He served as Presidential Office spokesperson from 2019 to 2023 before becoming deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office in January 2023.