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.

Simon Chang cabinet
47th premiership of the Republic of China
Date formed	1 February 2016 (2016-02-01)
Date dissolved	20 May 2016 (2016-05-20)
People and organisations
Head of state	Ma Ying-jeou
Head of government	Simon Chang
Head of government's history	Vice Premier (2014–16)
Deputy head of government	Woody Duh
Member parties	KMT
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition parties	DPP
Opposition leader	Tsai Ing-wen
History
Legislature term	8th Legislative Yuan
Predecessor	Mao cabinet
Successor	Lin cabinet

History

On 16 January 2016, Mao Chi-kuo resigned as premier following the ruling Kuomintang's defeat in both presidential and legislative election.^[1] Simon Chang, then vice premier, became the acting premier.^[2] President Ma Ying-jeou dismissed the Mao cabinet on 25 January, and appointed Chang as the successor on 1 February.^[3]

According to pollsters, the Chang cabinet had the highest approval rate amongst ministries during Ma's tenure, even surpassing the presidency's popularity.^[4] The administration won appreciation over the handling of the aftermath of the 2016 southern Taiwan earthquake,^[5] which happened just five days after the cabinet assumed office.

The cabinet resigned on 12 May amidst the upcoming transfer of power,^[6] and was succeeded by the Lin cabinet after Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition inaugurated as the president.^[7]

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[8]	48.5%	18.3%
Late April	TISR[9]	45.5%	20.2%
Early April	TISR[10]	47.8%	17.0%
Late March	TISR[11]	46.9%	20.6%
Early March	TISR[4]	49.8%	15.5%
Late February	TISR[12]	44.5%	16.2%

References

1. 阿Ken (16 January 2016). "行政院長毛治國請辭 ：不接受慰留，呼籲多數黨組閣" [Premier Mao declines to stay on and resigns, urges majority party to form cabinet]. The News Lens (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
2. "總統批准內閣總辭前 毛治國都將請假" [Mao takes leave before President approves cabinet resignation]. Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 18 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
3. "Vice Premier Chang San-cheng to assume premiership". Executive Yuan. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
4. "「台灣民心動態調查、兩岸現狀與一中」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Early March) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
5. "震災後 TVBS民調：88%滿意賴清德救災" [88% approve Lai's post-earthquake's relief: TVBS poll]. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 July 2023.
6. "張善政內閣總辭　馬總統將批准520生效" [President Ma to approve Chang cabinet's resignation, effective on 20 May]. Apple Daily. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016.
7. "張善政卸任澄清移民說 自行駕車告別行政院" [Chang clarifies on immigrants comment as he leaves office]. ETToday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 July 2023.
8. "「台灣民心動態調查、520及政治人物印象」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Early May) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
9. "「台灣民心動態調查、兩岸及美豬議題」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Late April) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 28 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
10. "「台灣民心動態調查、總統犯罪與特赦」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Early April) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
11. "「台灣民心動態調查、新政府美中關係」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Late March) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
12. "「台灣民心動態調查、政黨輪替過渡期」民調新聞稿" [Taiwan Mood Barometer Survey (Late February) press release]. TISR (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 25 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.