Diplomacy: Chiang ends Manila visit
National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Antonio Chiang (江春男) ended a four-day visit to the Philippines yesterday. On his departure from Manila, Chiang said that he had met think-tank scholars and retired government officials and had discussed a wide range of topics of mutual concern. Chiang said that he also held talks with Taiwanese businessmen, explaining to them the government's "go south" policy and collecting information on their operations and problems. However, Chiang denied media reports that he had discussed the transfer of scores of F-5E jet fighters to the Philippines with government officials.
Crime: 'Hwakang Wolf' enrolls
The "Hwakang Wolf," a serial rapist surnamed Yang who is serving 16 years at Taipei Prison, has registered as a freshman at National Taiwan University (NTU), the university said yesterday. Yang passed the entrance exam last year, but was denied parole to attend the university. His parole application this year was also rejected, although he has been allowed to defer his enrollment at the university to next year. Yang, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Justice, went to the university to register on Thursday, but could not apply to defer his place because he did not bring his identification card, the ministry said. Nevertheless, friends or relatives can complete his application to defer by Oct. 7.
Mayoral election; Vote-buying alleged
Taipei City councilors from the New Party and KMT yesterday filed a civil lawsuit against DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) alleging vote-buying. New Party City Councilors Chung Hsiao-ping (鐘小平) and Chin Li-fang (秦儷舫) and Wang Cheng-teh (王正德) of KMT say Lee was attempting to buy votes when he gave 20,000 sandbags to residents preparing for Typhoon Sinlaku. Lee's representative, Peng Tien-haw (彭天豪), said it was regrettable that a benevolent act to help people in need has been mischaracterizad. Asked about the allegations, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) said it was the prosecution department's job to look into the matter.
Prehistory: Meeting starts in Taipei
The meeting of the Indian Pacific Prehistorical Association (IPPA), the world's top academic organization devoted to research of the prehistory of the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, East Asia and Southeast Asia, kicked off in Taipei yesterday. About 270 historians, linguists, archaeologists and anthropologists from 36 countries and areas are taking part in the 10-day meeting, which will include workshops, discussion panels and field-trip activities on the sidelines. This is the first time that the IPPA has convened its annual meeting in Taiwan, a gesture indicating the organization's recognition of Taiwan's academic status in prehistorical research, particularly in Austronesian studies. More than 250 papers are expected to be read and presented during the 10-day meeting, making it the largest and most significant of its kind ever to be held in Taiwan. The IPPA, founded in 1929, convenes its meeting every four years.
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