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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ POLITICS

Chen claim disputed

The Presidential Office yesterday cast doubt on former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) claim that he had paid the person who was in charge of his 2004 presidential campaign NT$20 million (US$625,000) with his “state affairs fund” in 2003. An official at the Presidential Office, who asked to remain anonymous, said the financial records of the Presidential Office showed that Hau Kuang-tsai (郝廣才) had been paid NT$12 million over the years for the service his two companies provided to Chen, but that only NT$499,000 came from Chen’s “state affairs fund.” The official said that Chen spent about NT$1 million to NT$4 million of his “state affairs fund” each month. The office paid Hau NT$3.36 million in 2003, but the money did not come from the “state affairs fund,” the official said.

■ CRIME

Liao impeached for conduct

Liao Yuan-lung (廖源隆), former director of the Department of the Ministry’s East Rift Valley National Scenic Area, was impeached by the Control Yuan yesterday for sexual harassment of two women. Liao was caught on tape putting his hands on the shoulders of two assistants of Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ying (陳瑩) at a dinner gathering in the end of 2005. Control Yuan member Chao Chang-ping (趙昌平) said Liao, being a senior public servant, should behave himself. “After investigation, we thought that Liao’s licentious behavior had harmed the image of senior public servants,” Chao said.

■ HEALTH

Traditional cures showcased

The Taiwan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association will hold its first traditional medicine and pharmacy expo on Sunday to increase public awareness and combat misconceptions about the basics of the discipline. “The 2008 exposition will take place in Taichung City,” the association said at a promotional activity that was attended by Taichung Deputy Mayor Hsiao Chia-chi (蕭家旗). While touting the advantages of traditional medicine, Chang said it was not a substitute for visiting a certified physician when needed. Although traditional medicine is quite popular, there are a variety of misconceptions and folk remedies are often mistakenly described as traditional Chinese medicine, Hsiao said. He described Sunday’s fair as an opportunity for the public to gain an accurate understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, which has been practiced for thousands of years.

■ TYPHOONS

Hagupit skirts Taiwan

Typhoon Hagupit skirted Taiwan yesterday on its way to China. After leaving at least one dead and three missing in the Philippines, the eye of Hagupit churned into the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽) separating Taiwan from the Philippines. It brought strong winds and heavy rain across parts of Taiwan but no damage or injuries were reported. The Central Weather Bureau lifted a land warning for Hagupit early yesterday as the storm headed toward the coast of China’s Guangdong Province. By 5:30am yesterday, the center of Hagupit was 360km southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Pingtung County, while the typhoon’s perimeter, with a radius of 280km, had entered the South China Sea. The perimeter was expected to make landfall in Guangdong late today. Typhoon Sinlaku, which crossed Taiwan’s northern tip on Sept. 14, caused landslides in mountainous areas and left at least 12 people dead. Another 11 remain missing.
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