Chen Chu Appointed Presidential Office Secretary-General|總統正式宣布 陳菊將任府祕書長

President Tsai Ing-wen recently announced the appointment of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu as Presidential Office secretary-general. Tsai said she hopes Chen can help communicate with society, assist reforms, and gain more public support for the government. Asked if she would campaign for DPP candidates in the year-end elections, Chen said this is the job of the party and not the Presidential Office secretary-general.


Tsai Ing-wen embraces Chen Chu for a moment to show the media that they have a good relationship and mutual trust. The president personally hosted the press conference to announce Chen's appointment to the post of Presidential Office secretary-general. Tsai said the government has launched many major reform projects in the past two years and she hopes Chen can facilitate the projects by coordinating between different sectors of society.

Chen Chu has never been absent at any point in the history of Taiwanese democracy. At this critical juncture in our reforms, Chen Chu will of course not be absent.

Chen said her political journey began in 1968 and Taiwanese society has grown and developed in the last three decades. She said she hopes to help with reforms in her capacity as a presidential aide. Chen also said campaigning in the year-end elections is the job of the party and not the Presidential Office secretary-general.

I will be cautious. Election [campaigning] is not an important job for the Presidential Office secretary-general. That is the party's job. I think I am here today to help the president with the many reform programs going on in Taiwanese society. If there is a role I must play, I will probably take it. These are my current considerations.

Tsai, who doubles as Democratic Progressive Party chair, was also asked if she would take responsibility if the DPP doesn't perform well in the elections. She would not answer and would only say the question should be addressed to the party instead. She added the government hopes to win more support from the public through negotiation.