Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-05-03

Education Minister Wu Maw-Kuen said Thursday that he did not influence the decision of

disapproving the selection of Kuan Chung-Ming as the next president of National Taiwan University (NTU).

Kuan was officially selected as the next president of NTU in January. However, the education ministry cited a potential conflict of interest and has withheld their approval, preventing Kuan from taking office. Members of NTU and of the public have demonstrated against the government’s interference. At the end of April, the education ministry chose not to approve Kuan’s selection, sparking further protests.

Many have criticized Education Minister Wu since he took part in one of the interdepartmental meetings that discussed the selection of Kuan as NTU’s president. Wu said at the Legislature that he was invited to participate as an academic, and that his doubts focused on NTU’s selection process, not on Kuan himself.

Cabinet Spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung questioned Kuan’s legitimacy as NTU’s president since he owns shares of Taiwan Mobile, a mobile phone service company. But lawyers have said that the NTU owns shares of Taiwan Mobile, which makes Kuan’s candidacy entirely legal.    [SOURCE]