The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) yesterday dismissed allegations that SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), who doubles as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman, was spending taxpayers’ money on an overseas trip to engage in party affairs.
Saying “there was a considerable discrepancy” between the facts and media reports on Chiang’s trip, SEF spokesman Maa Shaw-chang (馬紹章) told a press conference that the purpose of Chiang’s trip to the UK and Switzerland was to explain the current situation and future prospects for cross-strait relations rather than to engage in party activities.
“He is not spending taxpayers’ money on party matters,” Maa said.
Maa said Chiang’s trip to the UK was so that he could attend the Conservative Party’s annual conference and meet parliamentarians from all over the world. In Switzerland, Chiang visited the secretariat of the WTO to gain a better understanding of member states’ efforts to sign free-trade agreements, Maa said.
As for the two SEF staffers traveling with Chiang, Maa said they were there to prepare Chiang’s presentations and to engage with the press, adding that their jobs were related to cross-strait affairs.
While Chiang’s travel expenses would be taken care of by the KMT, the SEF would pick up the bills of the two officials, Maa said.
Maa made the remarks in response to a report published by the Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday.
Maa said Chiang was not required to obtain permission from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) for the trip, nor had the SEF informed the council of the trip in advance.
Maa said the SEF would consider providing personnel to accompany KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) or Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on similar trips should they make a request.
An SEF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the KMT was too preoccupied with the year-end elections to send anyone on the trip.
At a separate setting yesterday, MAC Deputy Minister Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) said while the council respects the SEF’s operations, the foundation must obtain the consent of the council if they conduct cross-strait activities, especially if there is public funding involved.
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