But they have forgotten that they are promoting cooperation between KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) for the sake of the presidential election in the same vein.

There was nothing inappropriate with the new appointments, each of who is very qualified for their positions. If we want to criticize the matter objectively, the problem lies in the president's decisions that distorted the government system.

First, it should not be within the president's authority to change a vice minister of national defense. Chen's decision to replace former vice minister of national defense Kang Ning-hsiang (康寧祥) with senior adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) Lin Chong-Pin (林中斌) might have deviated from necessary protocols.

Former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) method of taking charge of Taiwan's defense, diplomatic and cross-strait affairs in person was absolutely groundless. The Ministry of National Defense (MND), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) are all government agencies under the Cabinet. It's indeed a mistake for the Presidential Office to directly rule the MND like this. Under such circumstances, the status and power of the Cabinet have declined bit by bit.

The thinking behind the reshuffle was essentially correct. Former secretary-general to the President Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) is honest and frank. He strove to consolidate the DPP government's leadership which conflicts and controversy. He is not the ideal choice for the presidential secretary-general, and it's appropriate for the experienced and diplomatic National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) to succeed the post. It's also suitable for Chen Shih-meng, a scholar at heart, to take the helm of the DPP's planned Ketagalan Academy (凱達格蘭學院). But the KMT and the PFP naturally have linked Chiou with the next year's election due to his background as the President Chen's campaign manager in 2000.

After Chen Shih-meng was suddenly transferred, however, President Chen immediately rewarded him with the high position of a "salaried senior presidential advisor." This decision was the biggest flaw in the personnel reshuffle, and it also violated the principle of "separation of party and government."

President Chen's announcement amounted to an inappropriate political reward that seriously offset an important balance of power. If a salaried senior presidential advisor holds a concurrent post as the head of the DPP's Ketagalan Academy, it's just like paying the president of the ruling party's school with the government's money. This is wrong, plain and simple

Fortunately, Chen Shih-meng firmly turned down the offer and chose not to accept the position. His decision deserves praise. According to the news reports, nevertheless, the president seems to believe that there's nothing wrong for a salaried senior presidential advisor to serve concurrently as the president of the DPP's school. Such thinking is quite bewildering and regrettable.

The Presidential Office spends NT$160 million on advisors. In light of the their work load, the advisors and the president should reconsider this expense. They should take their jobs seriously and earn their wages.

Chiu Hei-yuan is a research fellow in the Institute of Sociology at the Academia Sinica.

TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG