February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

TAIPEI, Feb 23: Taiwan’s defence minister resigned on Saturday due to a flap over a state-run firm set up to speed imports of advanced weaponry.

The controversy further tarnishes a presidential administration marred by corruption cases involving family members and aides.

“It was basically an embarrassment for the executive branch, because they violated a lot of rules,” said Andrew Yang, secretary general of the China Council of Advanced Policy Studies in Taipei.“(The resignation) is a sort of damage control.”

Taiwan’s cabinet accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Lee Tien-yu, whose department launched Taiwan Goal, a state-run arms procurement company with a $31.8 million investment. The company’s activities were also suspended.—Reuters