# Simon Chang cabinet

Simon Chang cabinet refers to the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1 February to 20 May 2016, headed by Premier Simon Chang. Most popular in the past eight years of Kuomintang governance, it was the first ministry led by an independent premier since 1928, and the last under President Ma Ying-jeou after the ruling party was defeated in the presidential election.

## History

On 16 January 2016, Mao Chi-kuo resigned as premier following the ruling Kuomintang's defeat in both presidential and legislative election. Simon Chang, then vice premier, became the acting premier. President Ma Ying-jeou dismissed the Mao cabinet on 25 January, and appointed Chang as the successor on 1 February.
According to pollsters, the Chang cabinet had the highest approval rate amongst ministries during Ma's tenure, even surpassing the presidency's popularity. The administration won appreciation over the handling of the aftermath of the 2016 southern Taiwan earthquake, which happened just five days after the cabinet assumed office.
The cabinet resigned on 12 May amidst the upcoming transfer of power, and was succeeded by the Lin cabinet after Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition inaugurated as the president.

## Cabinet

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Premier | Simon Chang | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Vice Premier | Woody Duh | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan | Chien Tai-lang | 24 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Interior | Chen Wei-zen | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | David Lin | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of National Defense | Kao Kuang-chi | 31 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Finance | Chang Sheng-ford | 4 June 2012 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Education | Wu Se-hwa | 6 August 2014 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Justice | Luo Ying-shay | 30 September 2013 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Economic Affairs | John Deng | 8 December 2014 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Transportation and Communications | Chen Jian-yu | 24 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Culture | Hung Meng-chi | 24 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Health and Welfare | Chiang Been-huang | 22 October 2014 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Labor | Chen Hsiung-wen | 22 October 2014 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Science and Technology | Shyu Jyuo-min | 24 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission | Jaclyn Tsai | 24 January 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Council | Chen Shyh-kwei | 1 August 2013 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of the Veterans Affairs Council | Tung Hsiang-lung | 1 November 2013 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Council of Indigenous Peoples | Lin Chiang-yi | 1 August 2013 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Hakka Affairs Council | Chung Wan-mei | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Financial Supervisory Commission | Wang Li-ling | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of National Development Council | Lin Chu-chia | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Mainland Affairs Council | Andrew Hsia | 15 February 2015 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
| Minister of Council of Agriculture | Chen Chih-ching | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Environmental Protection Administration | Wei Kuo-yen | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Kuomintang |
| Minister of Coast Guard Administration | Wang Chung-yi | 1 February 2016 | 20 May 2016 | Independent |
Ministers of independent agency unaffected by the resignation of cabinets:
* Chairperson of Fair Trade Commission: Wu Shiow-ming
* Chairperson of Central Election Commission: Liu I-chou
* Chairperson of National Communications Commission: Howard S.H. Shyr
* Governor of Central Bank: Perng Fai-nan (Kuomintang)
* Minister of Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan: Chou Yuan-chin
* Minister of Public Construction Commission, Executive Yuan: Hsu Chun-yat
* Minister of Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics: Shih Su-mei (Kuomintang)
* Minister of Directorate-General of Personnel Administration: Huang Fu-yuan
* Director of National Palace Museum: Feng Ming-chu
* Minister without Portfolio: Feng Yen, Hsiao Chia-chi (Kuomintang), Chung Chia-te

## Opinion polls

| Period | Conducted by | Approve | Disapprove |
| Early May | TISR | 48.5% | 18.3% |
| Late April | TISR | 45.5% | 20.2% |
| Early April | TISR | 47.8% | 17.0% |
| Late March | TISR | 46.9% | 20.6% |
| Early March | TISR | 49.8% | 15.5% |
| Late February | TISR | 44.5% | 16.2% |