Furthermore, Lu said, there are only a few days left before the Cabinet resigns and the affair occurred when Chiou was at the NSC rather than at the Executive Yuan.
DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said he fully supported the investigation because taxpayers’ money was involved.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said that while the matter happened in 2006, he did not become aware of it until MOFA briefed him and the ministry took the case to the Taipei Prosecutors’ Office.
As prosecutors are investigating the case, Chang said the Executive Yuan would cooperate fully, but would not intervene as it concerns the nation’s diplomatic interests.
As to whether Chen, Chiou or Huang should be held responsible, Chang said it would only be appropriate to apportion blame after the truth was uncovered.
DPP caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said the affair was yet another disaster for Taiwan and that it would only be to the party’s advantage that an investigation be launched.
Mainland Affairs Council Chairman (MAC) Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said that while the scandal was not something to be proud of, it was the result of the diplomatic quandary the nation was in.
Emphasizing that the source of the country’s diplomatic predicament was Beijing, Chen Ming-tong said that unless Beijing respected the existence of the Republic of China, cross-strait relations would never improve.
Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏), who hopes to become DPP chairman, said the DPP administration should determine why “crooks” had been allowed to handle the matter, adding that such a situation would not have existed had there been formal diplomatic relations.
While Huang said he had informed the president of the matter before the news broke, Koo said he did not think Huang was off the hook because of this. Nor did he think Chiou was fully responsible for the matter. As a DPP member, Chiou must face the party’s disciplinary action, Koo said.
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