President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday awarded outgoing Vice President Chen Chien-jen the Order of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Taiwan's highest civilian honor.
Tsai thanked Chen for his contributions to Taiwan, including leading the pension reform committee, advancing human rights, and interacting with religious groups. The president also spoke about Chen’s visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies and the key role he played in helping Taiwan contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Tsai said, “As a world-renowned epidemiologist, Vice President Chen offered his expertise to our team. It is because of his expertise and the Central Epidemic Command Center that he established when he was health minister, that Taiwan has been able to handle the outbreak well and make a contribution to the world.”
Chen also spoke at Monday’s ceremony. He said that all of the honor belongs to the people of Taiwan and to his wife. He also praised President Tsai for her leadership, describing her as a good shepherd, leading the people to green pastures and quiet waters.
The Presidential Office also announced several changes to top personnel in line with a reshuffle in the Cabinet ahead of President Tsai’s second term in office.
Former Legislature President Su Jia-chyuan will become the new secretary-general of the Presidential Office.
Meanwhile, former National Security Council (NSC) Chairperson David Lee will head the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), which handles exchanges with China in the absence of official ties. The person who has been selected for Lee’s former position at the head of the NSC, is Wellington Koo, who previously served as the chairperson of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC).