This week’s gossip begins with celebrity drug trouble, and ends with one angry mother.
Veteran actors Coco Sun (孫興) and Mok Siu-chung (莫少聰) of Hong Kong made headlines after they were arrested in Beijing last month on suspicion of possessing and consuming illegal substances. On April 15, the police collared Sun for allegedly having marijuana and ketamine in his apartment. The 47-year-old actor soon admitted that he has used various kinds of drugs for the past five years to give himself “energy” as his two failed marriages have exhausted him.
Mok was arrested on the same day for marijuana use. The 50-year-old actor said he only smoked a joint that a friend gave him at a party out of politeness, adding that it was his first time. According to some media reports, the bust was a setup intended to teach the lothario a lesson.
Photo: Taipei Times
The arrests sent the Chinese showbiz world into a frenzy, according to Chinese media. It is reported that Sun, who could face life imprisonment, turned stool pigeon and named other celebrity druggies and his dealers — including a “heavyweight star” — in the hope of receiving a lighter punishment. Many stars and celebrities have reportedly fled China’s capital. For the record, Sun says he didn’t snitch.
Mok was released on Saturday after a 14-day stint in the Chaoyang District Detention Center. As for Sun, Chinese media speculate that the most credible scenario is one year in rehab.
Meanwhile, back in Taiwan, Chinese restaurateur Zhang Lan (張蘭) came face-to-face with local media still upset about how they were treated during the March 22 wedding of her son, Wang Xiaofei (汪小菲), and Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛, aka Big S). Zhang was in town over the weekend for a business meeting. Though gossip hounds have put her under a microscope, the 54-year-old businesswoman started off the trip coming across as self-assured and talked confidently.
On Friday last week, Zhang revealed her plan to open five to 10 restaurants in Taiwan in the next three years. “I will bring the best Chinese cuisine to improve Taiwanese people’s palate,” she said. And after an earthquake on Saturday, the entrepreneur was quoted as saying: “I like earthquakes. I bring earthquakes because I am full of energy.”
But the attention seemed to get too much by Sunday, when local media reported that a journalist asked why Wang only gave part of the wedding money he and Big S received to charity, after the couple had promised to donate it all. “I think you are very unkind … I am an entrepreneur, not your prey,” Zhang was quoted as screaming. “I am pissed off!”
Just after 6am, I walked up to the ticket gate at Taipei Main Station and entered the Taiwan Railway platform without scanning any ticket; instead, I flashed the Sanrio Fun Rail pass on my phone to the gate worker and was admitted. I found my train and prepared to board. My destination? This very same station. I was embarking on a 13-hour journey on one of two round-the-island trains operated by ezTravel. They run each day, one counterclockwise around the island and one clockwise. They differ in a number of ways from an ordinary Taiwan Railway train and can make for
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
On Thursday, former Taipei mayor and founder of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was sentenced to 17 years in prison and had his civil rights suspended for six years over corruption, embezzlement and other charges. Seven others related to the case were also handed prison sentences, while two were found not guilty. It has been a bad week for the TPP. On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Chinese immigrant Xu Chunying (徐春鶯) with suspicion of taking part in Beijing-directed election interference. Xu has strong links to the TPP, which once offered her a party list legislator nomination. Tuesday also
RSS