Taiwan Is Said to Favor Yang Chin-long as Central Bank Chief
Taiwan Is Said to Favor Yang Chin-long as Central Bank Governor
(Bloomberg) -- President Tsai Ing-wen favors choosing monetary policy maker Yang Chin-long to become the next chief of Taiwan’s central bank, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Yang, the central bank’s deputy governor, is set to succeed Perng Fai-nan, 79, when he steps down in February, the person said. After two decades in the position, Perng is one of the world’s longest-serving central bank governors. Presidential Office spokesman Lin Ho-ming declined to confirm Yang’s appointment, saying the government would announce who the new governor will be as soon as it has been decided.
“It’s not a surprise at all as the president is looking for someone who can maintain stability for currency and monetary policies,” said Gordon Sun, director at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. President Tsai Ing-wen said earlier that the next governor must be determined to maintain economic stability. Good communication with other government departments on forging policy is also among requirements for next candidate, she said.
Given Yang’s role as deputy, he is likely to follow Perng’s stance, making the transition seamless. Yang could address concerns of industries that want no drastic changes. “He is a safe card as the administration avoids controversies in the run-up to local elections late this year,” Sun said.
Key points about Yang Chin-long
- Areas of expertise: macroeconomics, foreign exchange, banking
- Career path: Joined central bank in 1989
- Education: PhD in economics from University of Birmingham, U.K.
The appointment is in line with economist expectations. Yang was the leading contender for the post, according to a recent Bloomberg survey of economists. With economic growth forecast to hold up in 2018 as inflation remains moderate, a leadership transition isn’t seen as reshaping the policy outlook. Economists forecast modest tightening of borrowing costs later this year.
The president cited Yang’s strong knowledge of the economy and experience of currency markets as reasons for her choice, the person familiar said. The new governor’s five-year term would normally end in February 2023, with no limit on consecutive terms.
Perng began his tenure as central bank chief by defending the Taiwan dollar during the Asian financial crisis, and he has long prioritized stability. Economic output has nearly doubled under his two decades steering policy. The transparency of monetary policy also improved under his governance -- the central bank has started releasing quarterly meeting minutes.
The incoming governor may face a more benign situation than Perng did when he arrived, with export prospects bright amid robust global growth. Still, the central bank must address challenges including capital outflows and currency-depreciation pressure as major economies normalize monetary policy. The benchmark interest rate has been unchanged at 1.375 percent since June 2016.
“Taiwan’s next central bank captain would face challenges including monetary tightening this year from neutral last year on the global front,” Sun said. “The sooner the appointment of a new governor the better -- it would be a relief for those concerned.”
--With assistance from Yinan Zhao and Adela Lin
To contact the reporters on this story: Argin Chang in Taipei at achang153@bloomberg.net, Miaojung Lin in Taipei at mlin179@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: John Liu at jliu42@bloomberg.net, Stanley James at sjames8@bloomberg.net, Jeffrey Black, John McCluskey
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