The task of appointing the next head of Academia Sinica will be handled by the incoming president, Tsai Ing-wen. That’s after Taiwan’s top research institute told President Ma Ying-jeou that it would not be able to present its candidates before his last day in office. Tsai takes over from Ma on Friday.
The two finalists for the position, James Liao and Chou Mei-yin, had expressed reservations about the appointment process. A third candidate, Kuo Way, has already withdrawn from the race but remains on the official shortlist. Presidential Office spokesperson Charles Chen commented on Tuesday.
Chen said, “President Ma respects the decision of the three academicians. As Academia Sinica cannot arrange presidential interviews for the candidates before May 20th, President Ma has decided he will no longer play a role. The matter of appointing the next Academia Sinica head will be passed to the incoming president.”
The previous head of Academia Sinica, Wong Chi-huey, formally resigned last week amid allegations of involvement in an insider trading scandal.