President Chen Shui-bian (
On Saturday, Kaohsiung Mayor Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) announced the establishment of a five-member investigative team to look into controversies surrounding the massive Kaohsiung mass rapid transit (MRT) construction project.
Speculation about Chen's trust in Hsieh arose following Yeh's announcement.
It is widely believed that Chen directed Yeh to launch the inquiry into the problem-ridden project.
Responding to a media query as to whether he still trusts Hsieh, Chen said firmly: "Of course I trust him."
Chen made the response after paying a visit to a 102-year-old resident of Taipei, Lin Chen Jih (
According to a report yesterday by local Chinese-language evening paper the China Times Express, the internal DPP interpretation of the president's actions was that it showed his determination to root out corruption. One anonymous high-level DPP official was quoted as saying that he thought that the president would deliver an important speech on Double Ten National Day tomorrow and follow up with further action.
The controversies surrounding the Kaohsiung mass rapid transit system construction surfaced after a group of Thai laborers working on the project rioted on Aug. 21 in protest over unfair and inhumane treatment. Law enforcement authorities have been investigating the cause of the riot and alleged irregularities involved in the employment and management of the Thai workers.
Earlier this week, two of President Chen's advisers -- Chen Che-nan (
The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) approval rating has shown signs of decline since the Aug. 21 riot. As a damage-control measure to prevent the alleged KRTC scandal from eroding support for the DPP ahead of the year-end "three-in-one" elections, President Chen reportedly asked Yeh to form a special investigative team to probe the administrative accountability of past Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) mayors, including Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), Hsieh and acting mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), in the controversies.
Yeh said Friday that the five-member team's investigation will be conducted "without any limitations." The team, composed of legal and construction experts, will look into alleged conflicts of interest impartially and selflessly and release its findings on Oct. 20, Yeh added.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
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