The accuracy of the fax sent on Monday by the former chairman of the Tuntex Group, Chen Yu-hao (
"Chen Yu-hao's assertion that he offered a political donation to President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen Yu-hao has been mired in a scandal related to the development of his business in China. He has been accused of embezzling about NT$800 million from a Tuntex Group subsidiary, Tunghua Development, for investment in China and was indicted on charges of breach of trust in 2002.
Chen Yu-hao reportedly fled to China in August of that year.
"We learned from other Taiw-anese businessmen stationed in China that the tycoon was forced to fax the letters under pressure from the Chinese government, because his businesses in China had come to a dead end," Tsai told a press conference yesterday morning.
The Taiwanese businessmen said that Chen Yu-hao's investments in China had been frozen. Furthermore, Chen Yu-hao could not easily return to Taiwan, having debts of over NT$6 million in his homeland, he said.
"The Chinese government is therefore using him as a tool to influence Taiwan's presidential election," Tsai told reporters.
Besides vowing to bring Chen Yu-hao to justice, Tsai and his DPP colleague Chang Ching-fang (張清芳) also urged Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to publicly account for how he would cope with former friends and subordinates on the 10 most-wanted fugitives list created by the Executive Yaun.
Lien should elaborate on whether or not he would pardon two former subordinates -- the ex-president of Central Broadcasting System Gloria Chu (朱婉清) and former Legislator Wu Tzer-yuan (伍澤元) -- after his election, Chang said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore