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."
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
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About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
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