The ongoing financial controversy surrounding independent presidential candidate James Soong (
Finance minister Paul Chiu (
Chiu refused to reveal the actual amount of tax levied, saying he is required by law to keep it secret. But Chiu confirmed that the figure is definitely lower than the NT$300 million reported in the media.
Soong will have two months to pay the tax, which is believed to be a retroactive gift tax for the NT$140 million in an account of his son Soong Chen-yuan (
Soong had said earlier that the NT$240 million involved in the scandal, part of which was in his son's account, had been entrusted to him by the KMT to perform various tasks and that he had tried unsuccessfully to return the money to the KMT.
KMT officials had said the party would not accept a private settlement with Soong but take the case to court.
Some of the money in Soong's Chen-yuan's account dates back to 1994. Details of the tax levied are not immediately available, nor whether it includes fines for overdue payment.
Ministry officials said Soong can apply for a review of the tax bill. He can also file a petition with the Ministry of Finance if he objects to the results of the review. If the petition is rejected, he can file an administrative lawsuit.
Soong's camp vowed to fight the tax bill and said that, to prove the money in his son's account was from a KMT fund and not his son's, Soong had already deposited the money at the court a few days ago via his lawyers, according to Soong's spokesman Yen Jung-chang (
Meanwhile, officials at the Control Yuan said they plan to release the results of their investigation into Soong's finances next week.
Ma Yi-kung (
Soong had failed to respond to a summons for questioning at the Control Yuan on Monday.
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