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.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not