New evidence in Lafayette case

The Control Yuan task force in charge of the Lafayette frigate weapons purchase scandal questioned Taiwan's representative to Austria Hsia Tien (夏甸) yesterday to clarify his involvement in the deal.

The Control Yuan members, including Kang Ning-hsiang (康寧祥), Ku Teng-mei (古登美) and Chao Jung-yao (趙榮耀), met Hsia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday afternoon to clarify the former deputy chief of general staff's involvement in the weapons purchase scandal.

After a nearly two-hour closed-door meeting, Hsia walked out of the foreign ministry only to find himself surrounded by waiting reporters.

Hsia declined to reveal any details of the meeting, saying, "Under such circumstances, I am unable to say anything. Surrounded by such a crowd [of reporters], I am unable to speak. You have already intruded on my privacy."

"Find another appropriate occasion, and then I'll explain things to you," Hsia added.

Kang said the task force wanted to clarify some points surrounding the navy's decision to "change directions" in the weapons purchase case.

The original plan under discussion at the time was to purchase a Korean-made frigate, but the scheme was delayed and the related authorities decided to drop the original plan and purchase the French-made Lafayette frigate instead.

Related materials revealed to the Control Yuan task force indicate that then chief of general staff Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村), during a visit to France in May 1989, instructed Hsia, who had accompanied him, to send a telegram to Taiwan to order the purchase of the Korean frigate be delayed.

But Hau denied that when questioned by the Control Yuan task force. Hsia's statement in yesterday's close-door investigation, however, contradicted Hau's claim.

Kang said after yesterday's investigation that Hsia admitted to the task force that he did send the telegram to Taiwan under Hau's instruction.

Kang refused to reveal any further details surrounding the reason for the changes in the overall purchase scheme.

"The task force will make public details regarding the change of direction in the purchase case after the investigation report is completed," Kang said.

Hsia was one of the six major players who was involved in the decision-making process surrounding the purchase of the French-made Lafayette frigate.

The 71-year-old Hsia is set to retire from his current post as Taiwan's representative to Austria soon, following the foreign affairs ministry's recent reshuffle of Taiwan's diplomatic front lines.

Hsia will report to the Foreign Relations Committee at the Legislative Yuan tomorrow, and it is believed his involvement in the Lafayette frigate weapons purchase scandal will become the focus of lawmakers' inquiries.