In another wave of Cabinet reshuffling, the Executive Yuan today announced that National Security Council (NSC) Deputy Secretary-General John C. C. Deng has been appointed minister without portfolio in charge of financial and economic affairs, taking over the position vacated by Schive Chi, while Distinguished Professor Chiang Been-huang of National Taiwan University's (NTU) Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has been named minister without portfolio responsible for science and technology (S&T) and food safety affairs, replacing Chang San-cheng, the new Minister of Science and Technology.
Deng graduated from the Department of Law of Soochow University and earned a master of laws degree from the George Washington University (U.S.A.). Before becoming NSC deputy secretary-general, he had served as director of the MOEA's Bureau of Foreign Trade, director of the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), deputy minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, deputy representative of the Permanent Mission of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to the World Trade Organization (WTO), TECRO deputy representative, chief representative of the MOEA's Office of Trade Negotiations, and MOEA political deputy minister.
During his terms in the MOEA, Deng handled tasks involving industries, trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, investment, and state-run enterprises, displaying deep understanding of each, the Executive Yuan said. His years of experience in international economic and trade negotiations, activities of global organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the WTO, and enactment of cross-strait economic and trade policies have given him comprehensive training in handling financial and economic affairs and cross-strait trade. It is believed that Deng will become Premier Jiang Yi-huah's right-hand man on finance and economics after assuming the post of minister without portfolio and taking responsibility for the supervision of relevant agencies.
Chiang, who holds a Ph.D. in food science from the University of Illinois (U.S.A.), has been engaged in educational, research and academic administration affairs for years. He has served in numerous posts at NTU, including associate professor, professor, director and most recently distinguished professor of the IFST, dean of the College of Bioresources and Agriculture, chief director of the Center for General Education, and dean of the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).
While working as OAA dean, he promoted teaching reform, strengthened the office's structure and improved the academic affairs information system, greatly raising the standards of the university's teaching and academic administration.
Chiang has also served as executive secretary of the Joint Board of the College Recruitment Commission, achieving outstanding results by joining forces with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the College Entrance Examination Center to promote the reform and Internet operation of Taiwan's college admissions system.
In addition to this abundant experience in academic administration, Chiang has a good understanding of the S&T projects conducted by government agencies like the MOEA, Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Council of Agriculture (COA), having long assisted with their evaluation, as well as of the development of the biotech industry. An outstanding scholar in the field of food safety, Chiang has also served on the food safety and nutrition consultation committee of the MOHW and the food committee of the Consumers' Foundation.
After assuming the post of minister without portfolio, Chiang will supervise the Executive Yuan's Board of Science and Technology, food safety, and relevant affairs that are under the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology, MOHW, MOE and COA.