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TAIPEI : Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou named a China expert to head the national security council which coordinates the island's major policies, Ma's office said on Monday.
Su Chi, 60, a political science scholar and former chairman of the mainland affairs council which lays guidelines for policy on China -- will take up his post after Ma's inauguration on May 20.
"As one of the president's top aides, I will provide comprehensive and balanced information to him to map out national security-related policies," Su told reporters.
The national security council and national security bureau assist the president in making decisions on issues concerning national security. The new national security bureau chief has yet to be named.
"Once I take office, I will definitely abide by the law, devoting myself to the country," Su said.
The outgoing Democratic Progressive Party government is mired in the island's worse diplomatic scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of 30 million US dollars which was earmarked for Papua New Guinea in a bid to secure its diplomatic recognition.
Three cabinet officials implicated in the scandal have resigned including vice premier Chiou I-jen, a former national security council chief and right-hand man of outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.
The scandal dealt another blow to Chen's administration following poll setbacks earlier this year. Chen steps down on May 20 at the end of his second and final four-year term.
Ma last week called for a "ceasefire" in Taiwan's diplomatic battle with China amid the scandal, adding that "chequebook diplomacy" was hurting both sides.
Only 23 countries formally recognise Taiwan over China, from which it split in 1949 after a civil war.
- AFP/ms
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