The government’s response has been mauled by survivors in the worst-hit communities and by Taiwan’s media.
As a result, Ma — who has focused since he became president 15 months ago on building the closest-yet relations with mainland China — has cancelled the big annual national day celebrations for Oct, 10, when the Republic of China was declared 97 years ago.
He has also cancelled a Solomon Islands summit he had planned for the six Pacific island nations that recognize Taiwan.
And fuelling further controversy, he said the top priority of the defense force — which is confronted by a massive People’s Liberation Army force just across the Taiwan Strait — will now be disaster relief.
Defense Minister Chen Chao-min and cabinet chief Hsieh Hsiang-chuan have offered their resignations, but Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said he has asked them “to stay on and commit themselves to relief work” until a likely cabinet reshuffle next month.
However, the resignation of Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia, who led Taiwan’s delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Cairns a fortnight ago, has been accepted. He sent a message to foreign posts instructing them to turn down foreign aid, saying Taiwan could cope on its own.
Ma’s popularity rating has sunk — in a pro-government newspaper to 29 percent and in a TV station’s poll to 16 percent.
But he has spurned appeals to resign. “I will not run from my responsibilities,” he said. “I know there are areas to improve, and as president I have to shoulder the responsibility for relocation and resettlement.”
