Former Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) drew ire from opposition lawmakers by making a visit to China just one day after leaving his post as head of Taiwan’s semi-governmental organization in charge of cross-strait exchanges and negotiations.
Chiang on Thursday stepped down from the SEF post after four years and four months on the job. He arrived in Beijing on Friday and met with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Wang Yi (王毅) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
“Chiang was the President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration’s representative in negotiating with China. Right after he left the SEF, he heads to China. Is this to report to his new master?” DPP caucus secretary-general Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said.
Chiang is reportedly poised to take over as chairman of the Chinatrust Financial Holding Co and was accompanied by Hsueh Hsiang-chuan (薛香川), chairman of the Taiwan Lottery Co, a subsidiary of the Chinatrust Group, when meeting Wang and Chen at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
Chiang said he was in Beijing to attend the opening of a new financial research institute at Peking University, which was partially funded by the Chinatrust Commercial Bank.
Appeared unconvinced, Tsai said that “for a long time, there have been questions and suspicions surrounding Chiang and his family because of their allegedly cozy relationship with members of China’s political and business circles.”
“Ma must give the public an explanation about this ... Ma always said Chiang was his capable right-hand man for cross-strait negotiations, so please tell us: Is there reason to doubt Chiang’s integrity and trustworthiness?” Tsai said.
Wang was quoted by the China-based China News as praising Chiang during their meeting for improving cross-strait relations, as well as investment and business.
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