President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has appointed former Legislative speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) as the new chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), following the departure of Wu Feng-shan (吳豐山) on December 31, 2025. Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) announced the appointment on Tuesday evening, noting that Su was chosen for his extensive political experience and successful record in international exchanges, including his tenure as president of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association. President Lai expressed hope that under Su’s leadership, the SEF will continue strengthening cross-strait communication in a constructive and positive direction. 

Kuo highlighted the significant role of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in fostering exchanges between Taiwan and China, supporting Taiwanese citizens and businesses during challenging times, and safeguarding their rights and interests. President Lai anticipates that Su will continue to advance these initiatives and contribute to the positive development of Taiwan-China relations.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) welcomed the appointment, highlighting Su’s long public service career, from Legislature representative and legislator to Pingtung County magistrate and interior minister. The MAC expressed confidence that Su’s seasoned leadership will help the SEF better serve the public while navigating the complexities of cross-strait interactions.  

The MAC also extended gratitude to former Chairman Wu for his service and said it looked forward to close cooperation with Su and SEF Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Lo Wen-jia (羅文嘉). It reiterated that future efforts will adhere to President Lai’s cross-strait policies and mainstream public opinion, to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.