TAIPEI: Taiwan's Premier Lin Chuan has offered his resignation, a government spokesman said on Monday, a departure expected because of declining public support for President Tsai Ing-wen. </s> TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Premier Lin Chuan resigned on Monday in a move aimed at reviving dwindling public support for the government of President Tsai Ing-wen.

Tsai’s office announced in a statement that Lin offered his resignation on Sunday, saying that he had “accomplished his periodic tasks”, and it was approved by the president.

Speculation had been rife that Lin would be replaced. The government’s popularity has been hit by a series of controversial policies, ranging from holiday cuts to pension reforms, as well as by worsening relations with China.

Beijing has cut all official communication with Tsai’s government since she took office in May last year. Her Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally independence-leaning and has refused officially to accept that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Tsai’s popularity has dropped from a high of nearly 70 percent when she took power to below 30 percent in several recent polls, with some in the DPP blaming the unpopular premier for dragging down her support.

In a TVBS poll released last month, Lin’s support fell to a record low of 18 percent, while 44 percent said he should be replaced against 26 percent who said he should stay.

“I am happy that somebody will take over the heavy burden and I’m grateful that somebody is willing to do that… I’ll accept the criticisms that are reasonable,” Lin told reporters when asked about his low public support.

Lin, an economist and former finance minister, was rumored to become the next governor of Taiwan’s central bank. But he said Monday that he has no plans to take any government post in the future.

His replacement will be announced on Tuesday. There has been widespread speculation that the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan, William Lai, will take over.

The Harvard-educated Lai has won praise for his efficient management of the city, including his handling of the aftermath of an earthquake in 2016 that killed 116 people.

The cabinet is set to resign en masse in a formality on Thursday after the premier steps down. It is not immediately clear how many ministers will be replaced. AFP </s> TAIPEI: Taiwanese Premier Lin Chuan resigned yesterday in a move aimed at reviving public support for President Tsai Ing-wen's government.

Ms Tsai's office announced in a statement that Mr Lin offered his resignation on Sunday, saying he has "accomplished his periodic tasks", and it was approved by Ms Tsai.

The government's popularity has been hit by a series of controversial policies, ranging from holiday cuts to pension reforms, as well as by worsening relations with China.

Ms Tsai's popularity has dropped from a high of nearly 70 per cent when she took power to below 30 per cent in several recent polls, with some in her Democratic Progressive Party blaming the unpopular Premier for dragging down her support.

In a poll released last month, Mr Lin's support fell to a record low of 18 per cent, while 44 per cent said he should be replaced against 26 per cent who said he should stay.

Mr Lin, an economist and former finance minister, was rumoured to become the next governor of Taiwan's central bank. But he said yesterday he has no plans to take any government post in the future.

His replacement will be announced today.

The Cabinet is set to resign en masse in a formality on Thursday after the Premier steps down. It is not immediately clear how many ministers will be replaced. </s> Taiwan’s Premier Lin Chuan resigned on Monday in a move aimed at reviving dwindling public support for the government of President Tsai Ing-wen.

Tsai’s office announced in a statement that Lin tendered his resignation on Sunday, saying that he had “accomplished his periodic tasks”, and it was approved by the president. Speculation was rife that Lin would be replaced. The government’s popularity has been hit by a series of controversial policies, ranging from holiday cuts to pension reforms, as well as by worsening relations with China.

Beijing has cut all official communication with Tsai’s government since she took office in May last year. Her Democratic Progressive Party, which traditionally leans towards declaring formal independence from China, has refused officially to accept that Taiwan is part of one China.

Tsai’s popularity has been dropping from a high of nearly 70 per cent when she took power to below 30 per cent in several recent polls, with some in the DPP blamed the unpopular premier for dragging down her support. In a TVBS poll released last month, Lin’s support fell to a record low of 19 per cent, while 44 per cent said he should be replaced against 26 per cent who said he should stay. “I am happy that somebody will take over the heavy burden and I’m grateful that somebody is willing to do that… I’ll accept the criticisms that are reasonable,” Lin told reporters when asked about his low public support.

Lin, an economist and former finance minister, was rumoured to become the next governor of Taiwan’s central bank. But he said Monday that he has no plans to take any government post in the future. His replacement will be announced on Tuesday. There has been widespread speculation that the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan, William Lai, will take over.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App </s> [TAIPEI] Taiwan’s Premier Lin Chuan resigned on Monday in a move aimed at reviving dwindling public support for the government of President Tsai Ing Wen.

Ms Tsai’s office announced in a statement that Mr Lin offered his resignation on Sunday, saying that he had “accomplished his periodic tasks”, and it was approved by the president.

Speculation had been rife that Mr Lin would be replaced.

The government’s popularity has been hit by a series of controversial policies, ranging from holiday cuts to pension reforms, as well as by worsening relations with China.

Beijing has cut all official communication with Ms Tsai’s government since she took office in May last year.

Her Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally independence-leaning and has refused officially to accept that Taiwan is part of “one China”.

Ms Tsai’s popularity has dropped from a high of nearly 70 per cent when she took power to below 30 per cent in several recent polls, with some in the DPP blaming the unpopular premier for dragging down her support.

In a TVBS poll released last month, Mr Lin’s support fell to a record low of 18 per cent, while 44 per cent said he should be replaced against 26 per cent who said he should stay.

“I am happy that somebody will take over the heavy burden and I’m grateful that somebody is willing to do that... I’ll accept the criticisms that are reasonable,” Mr Lin told reporters when asked about his low public support.

Mr Lin, an economist and former finance minister, was rumoured to become the next governor of Taiwan’s central bank.

But he said Monday that he has no plans to take any government post in the future. His replacement will be announced on Tuesday.

There has been widespread speculation that the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan, William Lai, will take over.

The Harvard-educated Lai has won praise for his efficient management of the city, including his handling of the aftermath of an earthquake in 2016 that killed 116 people.

The cabinet is set to resign en masse in a formality on Thursday after the premier steps down. It is not immediately clear how many ministers will be replaced. </s> TAIPEI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has accepted the resignation of Premier Lin Chuan, the ruling party said on Monday, a departure that had been widely expected because of declining public support for the president.

Taiwan presidents often shuffle premiers in response to dips in popularity. Lin had faced mounting pressure to step down as Tsai's popularity plummeted to 29.8 percent by August, a private foundation survey has shown, since she took office in May 2016.

"The President has accepted his resignation after sincere talks," Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party said in a statement.

William Lai, the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a leading DPP figure, is widely expected to replace Lin, who is expected to hold a news conference at 2.30 p.m. (0630 GMT).

Lin has been criticized not just by legislators from the opposition, but also from the DPP. Tsai had praised the premier as "a great communicator" when she introduced him last year.

But frozen relations with China, a backlash over pension reforms and a revised labor rule, among other missteps, have put pressure on the president to seriously consider replacing Lin, to pave the way for her 2020 re-election campaign.

Lin, a close confidant of the president who retains her trust, could become the next central bank governor when current governor Perng Fai-nan retires next year. (Reporting by Faith Hung; Additional reporting by Jess Macy Yu; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) </s> Taipei: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has accepted the resignation of Premier Lin Chuan, a departure that had been widely expected because of declining public support for the president.

Taiwan presidents often shuffle premiers in response to dips in popularity. Lin faced mounting pressure to step down as Tsai's popularity plummeted to 29.8 per cent by August, according to a private foundation survey, since she took office in May 2016.

"The president has accepted his resignation after sincere talks," Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party said in a statement.

William Lai, the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a leading DPP figure, is widely expected to replace Lin.

Lin has been criticised not just by legislators from the opposition, but also from the DPP. Tsai had praised the premier as "a great communicator" when she introduced him last year.

But frozen relations with China, a backlash over pension reforms and a revised labour rule, among other missteps, have put pressure on the president to seriously consider replacing Lin, to pave the way for her 2020 re-election campaign.

Lin, a close confidant of the president who retains her trust, could become the next central bank governor when current governor Perng Fai-nan retires next year. </s> The resignation of Taiwan's premier has raised the possibility of changes in the island's troubled relationship with mainland China.

The Presidential Office said on its website Monday that President Tsai Ing-wen had reluctantly accepted Lin Chuan's resignation.

Tsai is to announce a successor on Tuesday, with the official Central News Agency saying her pick will be William Lai, mayor of the southern city of Tainan who has advocated seeking common ground with China.

China cut off contacts with Tsai's government more than a year ago because of her refusal to endorse Beijing's view that Taiwan is a part of China. The sides separated amid civil war in 1949 and China continues to threaten force to gain control over the island of 23 million people. </s> TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has accepted the resignation of Premier Lin Chuan, the ruling party said on Monday, a departure that had been widely expected because of the president’s falling public support.

FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's former finance minister Lin Chuan speaks during a news conference after he was announced as premier, in Taipei, Taiwan March 15, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Taiwan presidents often shuffle premiers in response to dips in popularity. Lin had faced mounting pressure to step down as Tsai’s popularity plummeted to 29.8 percent by August, a private foundation survey has shown.

When she took office in May 2016, her approval rating was as high as 70 percent.

“The president has accepted his resignation after sincere talks,” Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said in a statement.

Under Taiwan’s system, the president is the more important office, holding the jobs of commander in chief and head of state. The prime minister is appointed by the president to lead the cabinet.

Tsai is likely to be looking ahead to her 2020 re-election campaign.

Frozen relations with China, a backlash over pension reforms and a revised labor rule, among other controversies, have put pressure on her to replace Lin, in preparation for that campaign.

Lin said the party had “reached a point where we must embark on the next stage of the mission”.

“So I’ve resigned to pave the way for the president to re-organize her team and resources for that purpose,” he said.

The presidential office said a new premier would be announced on Tuesday.

‘BITING THE BULLET’

William Lai, the popular mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a leading DPP figure, is widely expected to replace Lin.

A Lai premiership would not necessary help the president to improve her ratings, some analysts said.

“They need a reboot, because current ratings for both are low,” said Alex Huang, a professor of Tamkang University, Taipei, referring to Tsai and Lin, adding that it must have been a hard decision for Tsai because of their friendship.

“Lin is sort of biting the bullet to clear the path ahead for the president and the next premier,” Huang said.

Some representatives of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have expressed scepticism that Tsai would build an effective partnership with Lai, if he did replace Lin.

FILE PHOTO: Taiwan president-elect Tsai Ing-wen shakes hands with former finance minister Lin Chuan (L), during a news conference announcing Lin as premier, in Taipei, Taiwan March 15, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

“I’d like to see how they both work together,” said Lai Shyh-bao, a KMT legislator. “Both Tsai and Lai have reputations for being overbearing and domineering.”

Lin has been criticized not just by legislators from the opposition, but also from his own DPP. Tsai had praised him as “a great communicator” when she introduced him last year.

Lin, a close confidant of the president who retains her trust, could become the next central bank governor when current governor Perng Fai-nan retires next year.
Premier of the Republic of China Lin Chuan offers his resignation as head of the Executive Branch of Taiwan.