An elderly veteran recently donated all of his savings to help needy people in a show of his love for Taiwan.
Wang Chun-chung (王鈞忠), 86, who is living at the Pakuashan Veterans Home in central Taiwan, mailed a check for NT$1.3 million to Shen Chun-hua (沈春華), a China Television Co anchor, asking her to use the money to help those who most need assistance.
Wang said in his letter that he was worried about ethnic rifts in the wake of the presidential election.
In his view, Wang said, the growing ethnic disharmony is detrimental to the nation's development.
"Therefore, I'm determined to donate my savings to help needy people as my way to give something back to the island," Wang wrote in his letter.
Wang said he has only deducted a small sum of money to finance his future living expenses and funeral costs. He has to pay for his accommodation at the Pakuashan Veterans Home.
Wang came from China with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government and retired in 1969. He didn't marry and has no relatives in Taiwan.
"I have habitually led a simple life and do not need much money," he wrote.
After an evening paper reported Wang's philanthropy, many reporters tried to interview him. But Wang declined any publicity.
Wang's friends at the veteran's home said he is a fan of Shen.
"As Shen has often reported on news events regarding disadvantaged people, Wang decided to donate his savings to poor people through Shen," said one of the friends.
In the fiery and bruising presidential campaign, ethnic origin was used by some politicians as a tool to woo voters. Ethnic rifts seemed to become more serious after China-born KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Lien has filed a lawsuit to nullify the election on the grounds that an election-eve shooting of Chen unfairly swayed sympathy votes in Chen's favor.
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