Higher officials should be held responsible for ECFA blunder

It was reported that the cartoon in question had been dropped and the chief of the news section of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) punished and re-assigned.

As everyone knows, the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) is presently considered the most significant project concerning cross-strait relations because, as one scholar puts it, it will enhance Taiwan's relative strategic posture in international trade.

This is why the Ma Ying-jeou administration has been spending so much time and effort promoting it at home and abroad.

Viewed in this context, it is not difficult to understand the strong public outcry over the incredibly ridiculous cartoon, prompting a major local newspaper to comment editorially that “we have never seen such a stupid government promotion.” Nor is it difficult to see why the disciplinary measure taken by the MOEA was not adequate.

All those familiar with Chinese bureaucracy must know that a publicity campaign for such an important government program as the ECFA, a special task force should be formed to be chaired by a top MOEA official, much higher than a section chief, responsible for offering the preliminary idea, which was then discussed and revised at numerous meetings. The final approval must be made by the MOEA minister or officials at even higher levels. Hence, it stands to reason that all those involved should be made to share the blame accordingly and proportionally. In fact, the simple logic of the code of conduct should be that the higher the official, the heavier the penalty.

This article is intended not to be vengeful, but to find out what's exactly wrong with the Ma administration in personnel management and ensure that the aftermath will be handled appropriately to prevent the same thing happening in the future (had Ma seen the comic before its release, he should have done some soul-searching himself).

It is indeed unthinkable that when so many MOEA's high officials were taking part in the designing of the ECFA promotion material, no one, during the long process of discussion, should raise opposition convincing enough to change the minds of the participants.

Worse still, Yiin, with the rank of a Cabinet member, has made several serious gaffes publicly since he took office, which is absolutely unfit for his status, so much so that many begin to question his intelligence and the overall ability to make sound judgment as an important policy maker in the government.

While President Ma needs more time to ponder his basic philosophy of personnel management such as a liking for decent and nice guys, for the time being he must take swift and resolute action to deal with those blunder-prone officials, no matter how high they are, through strict disciplinary measures, including re-assignments or outright dismissals.

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