Prosecutor-General Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) can rest easy now after the Control Yuan yesterday failed again to impeach him over his role in the “September strife” scandal sparked by efforts to oust Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and therefore his at-large legislative seat.
After reportedly intense discussions, 12 Control Yuan members voted 6-6 in a closed-door meeting on an impeachment motion against the prosecutor-general.
Control Yuan probe committee members Hung Te-hsuan (洪德旋) and Wu Feng-shan (吳豐山) submitted the motion shortly after their first impeachment motion was voted down on Nov. 28 last year by a 5-5 decision.
Control Yuan regulations stipulate that an impeachment vote requires a clear majority to be passed and a tie amounts to the defeat of the motion.
An impeachment motion also cannot be initiated against an official on the same charges more than twice.
The Control Yuan met on Dec. 10 and Dec. 19 last year to try to bring the motion to a vote. The first meeting was adjourned because there was not a quorum, while members refused to vote on the motion during the second meeting because they said the motion’s investigative report was incomplete.
The motion stems from allegations that Huang leaked classified information about an ongoing investigation by briefing President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 last year on the Special Investigation Division (SID) probe into allegations of improper lobbying by Wang.
Huang also allegedly showed Ma the transcript of a telephone conversation between Wang and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) that came from a wiretap.
Reports that the division had tapped Ker’s telephones triggered a scandal following revelations that the legislature’s switchboard had also been bugged in the process.
Huang previously promised to step down before his term expires in April should he be impeached by the Control Yuan or found guilty of leaking classified information in the first trial of a case brought against him by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on Nov. 1.
After wrapping up a two-month investigation, the Ministry of Justice Prosecutors’ Evaluation Committee on Dec. 14 recommended that Huang be dismissed for leaking information to Ma.
However, since it usually takes six months for a verdict to be handed down in the first trial of a case, which, along with the failure of the impeachment motion, could mean Huang would be able to complete his term.
While DPP lawmakers were sharply critical of the Control Yuan after yesterday’s vote, KMT legislators were divided on the result.
The public has lost faith in the Control Yuan, which has apparently forgotten its constitutional duties and its reason for existence, DPP Legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) said.
DPP Legislator Wu Yi-chen (吳宜臻) said the result was unexpected, particularly given that Huang’s alleged wrongdoings had also been “confirmed” by the ministry’s “neutral” committee.
“Vetoing the motion is tantamount to being an accomplice to Huang. We may as well dissolve the Control Yuan,” she said, urging the government to revise the threshold for impeachment of officials.
KMT caucus whip Lin Te-fu (林德福) said he respected the vote, adding that there was no point impeaching Huang, given he only had three months left in the job.
However, KMT Legislator Chen Ken-te (陳根德) said Control Yuan members had acted against public opinion to keep their own jobs.
“Even if they were to be nominated again for Control Yuan membership, their nominations would require our [the legislature’s] seal of approval. Do they really think they will have our support after we find out they have voted against the motion?” Chen said.
Huang refused to comment on the results of yesterday’s vote, as did the SID and Wang.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
Conflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released on Monday. The German Marshall Fund released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. The report details the “massive” economic, military, social and international costs to China in the event of a minor conflict or major war with Taiwan, estimating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could sustain losses of more than half of its active-duty ground forces, including 100,000 troops. Understanding Chinese
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
RSS