Ma lauded Su's contributions to pushing for defense and diplomacy reforms, including cementing Taiwan's ties with allies pragmatically and effectively, enhancing the country's international profile, building mutual trust with countries that do not recognize Taiwan diplomatically, and earning a green light from Washington for arms sales to the country.

For his part, Su said it was a great privilege to receive the order and that it confirmed the work of himself and his former colleagues at the NSC.

Su, who served in the administration of former President Lee Teng-hui between 1993 and 2000, said he joined Ma's administration in 2008 because Taiwan was seriously ill because of the eight-year rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now in the opposition.

However, he said, the policies unveiled by President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Vincent Siew will cure the country of the disease that affected the country's politics, economy, defense, diplomacy and ties with Beijing under the DPP.

In the past two years under Ma's leadership, the country has recovered a lot, it's safety is more secure on the international stage and the country's internal situation is progressing too, according to Su.

"The longer the medicine prescribed by the new government is taken, the more effective it will be," he said.

He thanked Ma for inviting him to serve in his administration, and praised his NSC successor Hu Wei-jen as a warhorse in the field of national security affairs and the best man to carry the torch for national security.

Su quit Feb. 11, saying his work at the NSC was "finished, " although political pundits have said he stepped down to take the blame for his bungling of a deal with Washington to allow imports of U.S. bone-in beef.

The deal caused an outcry in Taiwan and was eventually nixed by the Legislative Yuan, which was considered a serious setback for the Ma administration.

After leaving government, Su is expected to work for the National Policy Foundation, a ruling Kuomintang think tank.

(By Maubo Chang)