Slash Gu Lixiong takes over as Minister of Defense, a milestone for civilian leadership | Politics | Central News Agency CNA

(Central News Agency reporters You Kaixiang and Wen Guixiang, Taipei, 25th) Secretary-General of the National Security Council Gu Lixiong took over as the Minister of National Defense. He has served as chairman of the Party Property Council and the Financial Supervisory Committee. In addition to being called a miracle in the political arena, he is also a de facto leading representative of civilians. , how to break away from the burden of service-based nationalism in the future and use the experience of the National Security Council to flexibly respond to increasingly complex regional situations has attracted much attention.

Gu Lixiong, 65, is a second generation from other provinces. He was born in Keelung City. He graduated from the Law Department of National Taiwan University and a Master of Laws from New York University. He became a practicing lawyer at the age of 25. Born in a blue family, he heard Huang Xinjie’s speech during his schooling, which solidified his political awareness and became a legal think tank in the green camp. In the past, he and his mother, who was blue, often had small disputes over their political stance.

From being a defense lawyer with first-class defense skills to serving as a legislator, chairman of the Party Property Council and the Financial Supervisory Committee, he has never shied away from controversy, fully demonstrated his momentum and confidence, and can quickly grasp the key points. Coupled with his coordination and communication skills, he has become a leader in the Tsai Administration A great tool man role during his tenure.

When he was a lawyer in his early years, he paid attention to social reform issues and participated in the civil affairs reform committee. In 2014, he participated in the Taipei mayoral primary election of the Democratic Progressive Party, which became his entry into politics. In 2016, he served as a non-district legislator and his professional political management was deeply recognized. .

After President Tsai Ing-wen took office, she implemented her political views to promote transitional justice, and the relevant bill was successfully completed with the assistance of Gu Lixiong. Gu Lixiong was transferred from the legislator to the first chairman of the Party Property Committee, and he quickly handled matters related to the return of improper party property. A year later, he was transferred to the chairmanship of the Financial Supervisory Commission. Gu Lixiong, who had no financial background, was not favored at first. However, because he had no traditional financial ties, he created many achievements during his tenure, and even the opposition party legislators did not hesitate to support him. affim.

All previous Secretary-Generals of the National Security Council have military, diplomatic, cross-Strait, or long-term involvement in political operations. Gu Lixiong broke with convention and joined the government at the invitation of President Tsai to take charge of national security intelligence. Not only was he deeply involved in Taiwan, the United States, and cross-Strait affairs, but he was also assigned Gu Lixiong attended important meetings such as the high-level military-political dialogue between Taiwan and the United States, and even worked on the reform of the military service system. He was deeply trusted by President Tsai and became the most relied on national security military staff.

Although the Legislative Yuan passed the Second National Defense Law (Amendment to the National Defense Law and the National Defense Organization Organization Law) on the third reading in January 2000, establishing the dualization of military affairs and military orders with the goal of establishing a “civilian leadership”, President Chen Shui-bian’s eight years in office The first four ministers appointed, Wu Shiwen, Tang Yaoming, Li Jie, and Li Tianyu, were all first-level generals or second-level generals who retired and were transferred to other posts.

It was not until Li Tianyu resigned in February 2008 due to the “Pun Zhen” case that Chen Shui-bian appointed Tsai Ming-hsien, a civilian background, as the Minister of National Defense, making it the first civilian minister of defense during the Bian government. However, the DPP government was defeated in the general election in March of that year. After defeat, the political parties changed immediately in May, so the term was less than 3 months and was only regarded as transitional.

Also from a literary background, former Defense Minister Yang Nianzu, appointed by former President Ma Ying-jeou, came to power because of the Hong Zhongqiu incident, but then stepped down because he assisted in an article named on the Xue Lun incident. His term was only 6 days, and he can hardly be called a scholar leader.

As for Taiwan’s civilian defense ministers after the lifting of martial law in 1987, there were others such as Sun Zhen and Chen Lu’an. However, there was no “Second National Defense Law” at that time. Military power was still in the hands of the chief of staff, and the two civilian ministers were only regarded as symbolic. , naturally does not belong to the true leading literati.

Therefore, Gu Lixiong’s taking over as the Minister of National Defense will truly realize the goal of civilian leadership since the passage of the Second National Defense Law. He is expected to break away from the burden of military services in which the past Ministers of Defense were all retired generals from the three armed forces. Through the National Security Council The experience of docking with the United States during the Secretary-General’s tenure has accelerated the pace of military build-up and war preparations and strengthened combat capabilities to deal with possible threats in the future. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1130425