Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is seeing yet another change in its top positions, as two deputy ministers of government were appointed Tuesday to replace its second-in-command.
Transportation and economic deputy ministers Chen Yen-po (???) and Chen Cherng-chyi (???) will fill the post left vacant after the resignation of Chen Tsung-yen (???) on Monday, the CECC said.
The replacement of Chen Tsung-yen (???), who is deputy interior minister, followed the appointment of Victor Wang (???) as the new head of the CECC on July 15.
In announcing his two new deputies on Tuesday, Wang said Chen Yen-po will oversee the CECC's tourism policies, hotel management, border controls, and logistics, while Chen Cherng-chyi will handle the acquisition of medical supplies and coordinate the center's efforts to boost the economy.
On the question of whether the new deputy appointments signaled a change in the CECC's direction, Wang did not give a direct answer, saying only that the CECC's charter allows for the appointment of one to three deputies to meet changing responses as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
Tourism and economic stimulus measures are central to Taiwan's efforts to alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic on the domestic economy, Wang said.
The new CECC deputies have practical experience in those two areas, and their many years of public service make them ideal choices to lead the CECC's efforts in that regard, he said.
Wang was appointed last week as head of the CECC, replacing then Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (???), who resigned from both posts on July 14 to run for the Taipei mayoral seat in the November local government elections.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel