Taiwan Quick Take: TSU sees conspiracy

Minister of Transportation and Communications Tsai Duei (蔡堆) said yesterday that the Dec. 7 date for the High Speed Rail's inauguration was decided by of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Co (THSRC) alone. "THSRC is a private firm," Tsai said. "It is entitled to operate independently -- the ministry will respect its decision." Vice Minister Ho Nuan-hsuan (何煖軒) added that the company sent out invitations a month ago. Since dignitaries from overseas are to attend, rescheduling would cause considerable inconvenience, and the company has asked that the ceremony take place as scheduled, he said. Tsai and Ho made the remarks during a special report to the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus. During the session, Legislator Tseng Tsahn-deng (曾燦燈) questioned the motive behind holding the inauguration ceremony just two days before the mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung. He said the timing of the event was intended to advantage the Democratic Progressive Party.