Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-18
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday he will not approve Premier Mao Chi-kuo’s resignation before Tsai Ing-wen, president-elect and leader of the majority party in the new Legislature, gives a clear answer to his invitation to form a new Cabinet.

Ma told former U.S. Deputy State Secretary William Burns during his visit to Taiwan after the 2016 general election that he had phoned Tsai to congratulate her on winning the election and told her that he hopes the new government under her leadership will continue to maintain the status quo of peaceful cross-Strait relations.

Ma said during the telephone conversation he told her that since the Democratic Progressive Party under her leadership has become the majority party in the new Legislature, he hopes to appoint a new premier who has the support of the majority party to stabilize the government and avoid government’s “empty run.”     [FULL  STORY]