Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) is a good student of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Seeing how he handled alleged leaks of information by his then-deputy, Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), it is difficult not to recall how Ma handled the influence peddling accusations against Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平). The two cases show the ineptness of Ma and Wang Yu-chi, and how they handle issues inappropriately by not thinking things through. Despite having full control of the resources they need, they still manage to make the wrong decisions.
Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to indict Chang. He might have leaked information unrelated to national secrecy, and perhaps there were administrative oversights, but it was not enough to justify criminal charges. Wang Yu-chi was right to ask Chang to resign, because if a superior loses his trust in his political appointees, it makes it difficult for them to stay on. However, Wang Yu-chi was unable to make Chang go willingly, and when his underling went public, the minister lost his temper and accused Chang of leaking secret information and spying for China. However, Chang steadfastly maintained his innocence. In the end, the whole issue unfolded in the same way as Ma’s attack on Wang Jin-pyng, as Chang was not indicted and Wang Yu-chi decided to step down.
Accusing Taiwan’s top cross-strait negotiator of leaking secrets and espionage is serious business, and it was a heavy blow to national interests, cross-strait negotiations and the government’s image. What investigations did Wang Yu-chi undertake before he took action, and what kinds of discussions did he hold with Cabinet officials and the Presidential Office? How did he go about assessing Chang’s reaction and how the situation would unfold? Judging from the results of the prosecutors’ investigation, Wang Yu-chi’s doubts appear to have been based on rumors and little hard evidence. The end result was that he hurt not only himself, but also the government, making a laughingstock of the Ma administration.
Wang Yu-chi burned himself playing with fire, and he destroyed the cross-strait achievements that Ma has been so proud of. Over the past six years, China and Taiwan have signed a dozen agreements, and now people are wondering if Taiwan’s representative during the talks was bought by Beijing and if Taiwan’s national interests were compromised. Doubt has also been cast over the trade in services and goods agreements that have been a bone of contention between the government and the opposition for so long, legitimizing public opposition. Wang Yu-chi’s accusations that Chang was leaking information to China had a negative impact on mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, and it is unlikely that Ma will make any progress on improving relations during the remainder of his term. This debacle spells the end of Ma’s cross-strait dream.
Following the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) landslide defeat in the nine-in-one elections in November last year, the Ma administration is dispirited. Cabinet members who can find a way out are leaving, and there is little interest among possible replacements in academia and business. People are afraid to take the risk. As a result, the nation will be run by deputies as the government implodes. On Friday last week, Ma’s most trusted aide, former National Security Council Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) resigned, citing health concerns, and now Wang Yu-chi, who some say is the person who best understands Ma, is stepping down in disgrace.
The minister’s departure could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Due to Ma’s mistakes and passivity, it seems likely that Taiwan will be treading water for the next year.
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