The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) representative in Wash-ington, Jason Yuan (
DPP Legislator Wang Sing-nan (王幸男) yesterday sued Yuan at the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, citing an alleged violation of Article 158 of the Criminal Code, which punishes people who impersonate public officials with a maximum three years in jail.
The 20-page pamphlets, which Yuan sent to US senators and representatives together with a cover letter summarizing the contents last month, were part of a KMT campaign to challenge the legitimacy of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) re-election.
Yuan is a former director general of the foreign ministry's Department of North American Affairs and the nation's former ambassador to Panama.
Yuan wrote in his letter that Bulletgate referred to "the mysterious gun shooting case" and "many irregularities of that election." He signed his name as "Amb. Jason C. Yuan/Representative" in the letter.
"According to tradition, diplomats who have served as ambassadors are indeed respectfully addressed as ambassadors even after they take up new posts or after they retire," Wang said.
"But tradition is one thing; Yuan calling himself an ambassador is another. He retired earlier this year and is no longer a civil servant ... He is just the opposition party's representative in the US. Calling himself an ambassador is questionable behavior," Wang said.
Wang added that Yuan may have also violated Article 159 of the Criminal Code, which forbids the unauthorized use of uniforms or official titles.
A senior government official who recently wrapped up a trip to Washington said the KMT's campaign in the US had caused "significant damage" to the government's image.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on Yuan's conduct when asked about Wang's accusation.
"Yuan is a retired official. His remarks and actions do not represent the ministry," said Anna Kao (高安), deputy director general of the ministry's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, at a press conference yesterday.
"Our representative offices in the US have sent documents to the relevant US government agencies to clear concerns [about the election]," she said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (
Starbucks Taiwan’s decision to charge for drink customization, which had been free, has sparked consumer backlash, highlighting the challenge of raising prices without making customers feel they are losing value, experts said. Since Oct. 12, customers who order drinks with less or no ice and ask to have the volume topped up with milk or other liquid have been charged an additional NT$15. Topping off drinks without ice was previously free, and disgruntled customers posted photos on social media showing that iced drinks ordered without ice were only half full if the extra NT$15 was not paid. The posts drew tens of thousands
EXPLANATION: Tsai said he attended events featuring various interviewees to observe them firsthand as part of his interview research Television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) last night broke his silence over a controversy surrounding his appearance at a campaign event for Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋), saying he had never supported Taiwan independence. “I have always hoped for friendly cross-strait relations. I have never supported Taiwan independence,” Tsai wrote in a post on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Tsai, who has hosted television shows in China, attended the opening of Shen’s campaign headquarters on Oct. 4, drawing criticism from Chinese social media users and prompting some Chinese companies to distance themselves from him. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
Major department stores across Taiwan, including Taipei 101, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Far Eastern SOGO, Breeze and Honhui Plaza, are closed today due to Typhoon Champi, while major supermarkets remain open. Taipei 101 said its shopping mall, observatory and restaurants on higher floors are closed for the day, with future hours to be adjusted based on the storm's status. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi has closed all 16 of its branches nationwide, as well as its Taipei Railway Station mall and SKM Park Outlets in Kaohsiung. Far Eastern SOGO said it has closed all of its branches nationwide, including Garden City in Taipei, citing the safety
DOUBLE-CHECK: Mandarin Airlines said that it would adjust its schedule according to weather conditions, while high-speed rail services are to remain undisrupted Airlines, ferry services, railways and national parks announced cancelations and closures yesterday, as Typhoon Champi bore down on Taiwan. The Central Weather Administration yesterday issued land warnings for most of Taiwan proper, as Champi is forecast to come closest to the nation today. Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) has canceled all express trains on its western and eastern trunk lines today, while the high-speed rail system would continue to operate normally. For non-reserved TRC services, trains on the Coast Line, Chengzhui Line, Yilan Line and North Link Line are fully suspended. Services between Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as other unsuspended routes, would operate
RSS