Taiwan appoints new head of defense

File photo of Andrew Yang, former head of Taiwan's defense authority who resigned amid accusations of plagiarism. [Photo/Agencies]

TAIPEI -- Yen Ming has been appointed head of Taiwan's defense authority, replacing Andrew Yang, who resigned on Tuesday amid accusations of plagiarism after six days in office.

Taiwan's executive authority announced the appointment in a press release on Wednesday.

According to Taiwan media reports, Yang apologized and offered to resign at a press conference on Tuesday night for plagiarism in a book published under his general editorship.

Yang took office on August 1 after his predecessor Kao Hua-chu resigned amid public outrage across Taiwan sparked by the death of a young conscript in an alleged military abuse case.