In an effort to dispel rumors that he and his spouse have marital problems, Yao Chia-wen (
Rumor has it that Yao, a senior presidential adviser, has had extramarital affairs.
The opposition, therefore, says that because of these allegations and for other reasons, he is not the person to head the Examination Yuan -- which is responsible for the testing, employment and management of all of the nation's civil service personnel.
In response to the gossip, his lawmaker wife, also a former Changhua County commissioner, simply said that their marriage is fine.
During the the hearings yesterday, Yao also expressed his appreciation to his wife, thanking her for her assistance on his nomination.
"Chou Ching-yu, I love you," Yao said.
"After I was released from the jail, many problems occurred between us," Yao said. "But we have become closer due to my bid to lead the Examination Yuan," added Yao, who was jailed during the White Terror period.
The White Terror era, from 1949 to 1987, was a period of harsh political repression under KMT rule. During this time, martial law was in force. Many people -- especially intellectuals and the cultural elite -- were persecuted.
Yao has walked a rocky road since he was officially nominated last month by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to head the Examination Yuan. Both the KMT and the PFP are strongly opposed to his nomination, saying that Yao, a long-time pro-Taiwan independence activist, is unsuitable for the post due to his harsh political ideology.
Moreover, the opposition charges that the nominee has had no administrative experience and had long advocated the abolishment of the Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan in an attempt to turn Taiwan into a "three-branch government."
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their