The China Post
Date: November 28, 2016
By: By Joseph Yeh, The China Post
How to best leverage Taiwan’s constrained position in the international realm has sparked debate over
Newly appointed top envoys are seen being sworn in during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters in Taipei in this undated file photograph. (Joseph Yeh, The China Post)
the future of the country’s diplomatic core.
A government-backed amendment to make the appointment of non-career diplomats to overseas missions easier has been met with a mixed response.
Supporters have argued that reform is necessary to revitalize what they call a “staid system.”
But others warned it will pave the way for appointments made as a reward for partisan political loyalty.
On Oct. 31, an amendment to “Enforcement Rules of the Act for Appointment of the Members of the Diplomatic Staff and Consular Officers Stationed Abroad” (駐外外交領事人員任用條例) cleared the Legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee session.
While the amendment must still clear a third reading before becoming law, it has already sparked heated debate among lawmakers.
Existing rules stipulates that the president of the R.O.C. can appoint non-career diplomats to overseas positions.
However, these “political” appointments are capped at 10 percent of total appointees. [FULL STORY]
