Pro-independence group says Beijing must repatriate white-collar criminals

The 908 Taiwan Republic Alliance pro-independence group yesterday criticized Beijing, saying it is a regime that shields white-collar criminals who flee Taiwan.

That said, the group called on Beijing to charter a flight to forcibly repatriate criminals back to Taiwan.

With cross-strait charter flights in the spotlight ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the group's leader Peter Wang (王獻極) said China should arrange a special "criminal charter flight."

Wang was speaking at a joint press conference with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kao Chien-chih (高建智).

"It would be very dangerous for the [DPP] government to agree to cross-strait charter flights. We think it is a matter for the Executive Yuan to review," he added.

Since the Chinese government has claimed that it is willing to work with Taiwan to crack down on crime, it should show its sincerity by repatriating Taiwanese criminals who are hiding in China, Wang said.

Peter Wang's comments were prompted in part by the scandal surrounding Rebar Asia Pacific Group (力霸亞太企業集團) chairman Wang You-theng (王又曾), who fled to China and then the US.

Peter Wang said many other white-collar criminals had used China as an escape route.

Peter Wang listed former Kaohsiung City Council speaker Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄), former Kuangsan Enterprise Group (廣三集團) president Tseng Cheng-jen (曾正仁) and former Tuntex Group chairman Chen Yu-hao (陳由豪) as examples.

"China has become a paradise for Taiwanese fugitives," Peter Wang added. "China uses these Taiwanese fugitives, who take huge amounts of money with them, to create disharmony in Taiwanese media and society."

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said he was investigating a rumor that aviation police officers had treated Wang You-theng and his wife Wang Chin She-ying (王金世英) like VIPs when they left Taiwan last month.

"We are working on this issue and will address any problems that we identify," Cheng said.

It has been rumored that officers of the Aviation Police Bureau speeded the couple's passage through immigration and customs when they left for China on Dec. 13.

Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang