The newly elected president of Taiwan faces a great challenge as the entire members of the country's cabinet resigned last week Monday. In an apparent move to force the newly-elected president to assume responsibility, all 44 members of the cabinet left their positions.

Tsai Ing-wen, who won the election on Saturday, Jan. 16, got her first test in managing a crisis after the resignation of all cabinet members on Monday, Jan. 18. Tsai will be inaugurated on May 20. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also won the legislative majority.

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According to South China Morning Post, outgoing Premier Mao Chi-kuo led the cabinet members to leave their posts. President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang Party (KMT) has rejected Mao's resignation, however, the latter vowed not to remain in his post.

As one of the island's major ally, the United States sent former deputy secretary of state William Burns to meet Tsai. Washington is also planning to send Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing soon.

With the resignation of the entire cabinet, Taiwan is in danger of going into a government collapse. However, Tsai assured Burns that she would assume the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. This may be an overt reference to how her administration would manage relations with the mainland.

Tsai added that her administration will continue to maintain the island's good relations with the United States with the intention of establishing cooperation with Washington in terms of economic and industrial matters.

When the cabinet members left their posts following the resignation of Mao on Monday, Vice-Premier Simon Chang San-cheng assumed the responsibility of Premier under Taiwanese law. With the resignation of former Premier Mao, Vice-Premier Simon Chang uneasily holds the reigns while waiting for developments. It still unclear how long Chang will hold the position given that he has his own career plans. 

Taiwan may face months without a functional Executive branch.

TagsTaiwan, Premier Mao Chi-kuo, Tsai Ing-wen, democratic progressive party, Vice-Premier Simon Chang San-cheng