TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's premier-designate Tang Fei underwent successful surgery Sunday to remove a benign tumor from between his lungs.
Tang, who will step down as defense minister next month to assume his new post, was in stable condition after doctors removed the small tumor at the Tri-Service Hospital, chief surgeon Huang Min-hsiung told reporters.Tang will be released in one week, but it was not known when he would resume his official duties, Huang added.
Tang was diagnosed last week as having myastenia gravis, a nerve disease characterized by weakness and fatigue of the facial muscles.
Removal of the tumor will help diminish symptoms of the disorder, doctors said.
President-elect Chen Shui-bian rushed to the hospital from an official trip in southern Taichung county to visit Tang.
Chen said he was pleased that the operation went smoothly. He had said last week that the surgery would not affect Tang's appointment to the No. 3 job in the government.