The Cabinet-level Fair Trade Commission vice chairman Chen Chi-yuan (
Attempting to distance itself from criticism, the commission responded by saying that Chen's resignation stemmed from political considerations.
"We acknowledged his voluntary resignation, but, from a legal standpoint, the investigation has not met the requirements for suspension or resignation as regulated in the Law on Discipline of Civil Servants (
Since the vacancy Chen left is a political appointment, it will be the Cabinet's decision on who will fill the position and when, Chen said.
The Executive Yuan yesterday accepted Chen's resignation immediately after he submitted it.
The Cabinet is not expected to propose a successor before it is to resign en masse in February next year, said a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Chen is listed as one of the defendants in an alleged fraud case currently under investigation by prosecutors. He was released on NT$300,000 bail last week.
Chen is accused of defrauding the Ministry of Economic Affairs of over NT$300 million in public funds through collusion with more than 30 companies via a consultancy, CYCHEN Management Associates Inc (
The firm presided over a number of the ministry's projects between that period. Five controversial development projects, with an expenditure amounting to NT$1 billion, included improvement schemes on roadside vendors and other renovation plans.
The prosecution began their investigation in November last year and has reportedly gathered evidence against Chen.
Chen yesterday defended his innocence in a written statement, denying involvement in the alleged fraud and embezzlement allegations as well as criticizing the media for tarnishing his and the government's reputation.
The case stemmed from a discrepancy in contracts between his firm and the ministry, the statement said.
Chen became a commission member in February 2001 and was appointed the political vice chairman in August 2002.
FAST TRACK? Chinese spouses must renounce their Chinese citizenship and pledge allegiance to Taiwan to gain citizenship, some demonstrators said Opponents and supporters of a bill that would allow Chinese spouses to obtain Taiwanese citizenship in four years instead of six staged protests near the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday morning. Those who oppose the bill proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) demanded that Chinese spouses be granted citizenship only after renouncing their Chinese citizenship, passing a citizenship test and pledging allegiance to Taiwan. The demonstrators, who were protesting at a side entrance to the Legislative Yuan on Jinan Road, were mostly members of the Taiwan Association of University Professors and other organizations advocating Taiwanese independence. Supporters of the bill, led
SILENT MAJORITY: Only 1 percent of Chinese rejected all options but war to annex Taiwan, while one-third viewed war as unacceptable, a university study showed Many Chinese are more concerned with developments inside their country than with seeking unification with Taiwan, al-Jazeera reported on Friday. Although China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary, 23-year-old Chinese Shao Hongtian was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that “hostilities are not the way to bring China and Taiwan together.” “I want unification to happen peacefully,” Shao said. Al-Jazeera said it changed Shao’s name to respect his wish for anonymity. If peaceful unification is not possible, Shao said he would prefer “things to remain as they are,” adding that many of his friends feel
Taiwan has “absolute air superiority” over China in its own airspace, Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) told a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Monday, amid concern over whether Taipei could defend itself against a military incursion by Beijing. Po made the remarks in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) on whether Taiwan would have partial or complete air superiority if Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes were to enter Taiwan’s airspace. Po, a retired pilot, said that the Taiwanese military has “absolute air superiority” over PLA
A shipment of basil pesto imported by Costco Wholesale Taiwan from the US in the middle of last month was intercepted at the border after testing positive for excessive pesticide residue, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. Samples taken from a shipment of the Kirkland Signature brand of basil pesto imported by Costco contained 0.1 milligrams per kilogram of ethylene oxide, exceeding the non-detectable limit. Ethylene oxide is a carcinogenic substance that can be used as a pesticide. The 674kg shipment of basil pesto would either be destroyed or returned to its country of origin, as is the procedure for all