Minister defends spouse's job in China

Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh (何美玥) confirmed yesterday that her husband is working in China with a Japanese company but that this in no way violates any of Taiwan's regulations.

Fielding questions at the Legislative Yuan, Ho said that her husband began to work with the Japanese company in China long before she became a minister and she reported the matter to Yu Shyi-kun when he was still premier.

Ho gave the explanation in response to Legislator Tu Wen-ching (杜文卿) from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, who claimed that personnel from the Ministry of Economic Affairs or their relatives could be in cells of China's "fifth column" of intelligence agents.

Tu asked Ho to check how many relatives of ministry staff are working in China and even working for the People's Republic of China authorities.

Meanwhile, Ho said that in light of Beijing's passage of the "anti-secession" Law, her ministry would welcome an Executive Yuan move "the sooner the better" to push for a review of Taiwan's business and trade policy with China.

Ho said that the move had better be taken within one or two months to lessen the impact of uncertainties on the industrial and business sectors.