China negotiator, new Taiwan premier: Source

Taipei, May 13: Taiwan will choose the chief of a semi-official organisation in charge of negotiations with China as its next premier, a government source today said.

Chang Chun-hsiung, who is chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation and a former premier, will replace Su Tseng-chang, who announced yesterday he would step down amid speculation that President Chen Shui-bian did not want him to steal limelight from the ruling party's 2008 presidential candidate.

No one else wants to be premier for only one year, the source said. Chen must step down due to term limits in May 2008. Chang's office declined to comment.

Local media also tipped Chang to become the new premier.

Su will become the fifth premier to quit during the current president's seven-year tenure.

Reuters>