TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Monday announced that Minister without Portfolio Shih Che (史哲) will replace Cheng Kuang-yuan (鄭光遠) as chairperson of Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR), while Cheng will take over leadership of Taiwan Railway.

Cheng, who previously worked in air and sea freight transport at the EVA Group and spent a decade managing THSR, will now be tasked with reforming Taiwan Railway, per CNA. He may face an uphill battle, as the system has evolved through expansion and renovation dating back to the nineteenth century, per CommonWealth Magazine.

By contrast, Shih has spent most of his career in cultural administration, beginning under former Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), and this marks his first involvement in the transportation sector. His lack of relevant experience has drawn criticism over whether he can oversee a major infrastructure operator.

While THSR posted record profits and passenger numbers in 2024, the company is projected to face a peak budget shortfall in 2026. According to UDN, government insiders said the decision was based on Shih’s experience in local governance, with hopes he can facilitate northward and southward expansion of THSR.

Sources within the DPP questioned the move, telling UDN that Shih’s expertise is mismatched for the role and speculating the reshuffle may be part of a broader plan to promote another candidate to a minister without portfolio post.

Opposition lawmakers were far more critical. KMT Legislator Huang Chien-hao (黃建豪) compared Shih’s background to Cheng’s, accusing the DPP of replacing a professional with a political appointee, per ETtoday.

TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) denounced the appointment as a “personal reward” rather than a merit-based decision, per Tai Sounds, and TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) echoed the criticism while resurfacing allegations that Shih mistreated subordinates during his time as culture minister.

KMT Legislator Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋) alleged that Shih once forced an aide to walk in the rain for entering a car before him, citing anonymous sources, per ETtoday. In response, Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) announced in 2024 that the ministry was conducting an internal review and encouraged any affected individuals to come forward.