Military officials yesterday launched an investigation into allegations that officers at an air force base in southern Taiwan engaged in illegal gambling with links to Chinese Web sites.
The online gambling pool was allegedly started earlier this year by a non-commissioned officer surnamed Chen (陳) in the 439th Combined Wing at Pingtung Air Base.
Chen is suspected of using mobile networking app Line to connect with about a dozen military personnel from the air force, army and navy, who were invited to place bets on motor sports competitions in China, news reports said, adding that she provided analysis of upcoming competitions, offering tips on individual racers, with prognosis and forecasting of likely results.
Photo: Lee Li-fa, Taipei Times
Gamblers reportedly lost large amounts of money because of their unfamiliarity with motor racing in China, which contributed to Chen’s profits, reports said.
The greatest losses were reported by a female non-commissioned officer surnamed Ho (何), who borrowed money to cover her losses and accrued a debt of about NT$1 million (US$33,140).
The resulting stress affected her job performance, which led to the uncovering of the gambling pool.
According to sources at an air force unit, Chen was an intermediary accessing Chinese gambling Web sites focused on motor racing, who created accounts for the military personnel.
Chen was the only person with access to the Web sites and she also had access to the gamblers’ accounts, allowing her to monitor their betting, an officer said.
“After learning of the case, we have initiated an internal probe. Personnel involved in the case will receive two reprimands and two demerit points, and we will launch legal proceedings to address disciplinary matters,” the Air Force Command Headquarters said in a statement.
However, the office did not specifying whether only the gambling pool organizer or all the participants would be punished.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from