Physicist and former minister of education Wu Maw-kuen (吳茂昆) did not press Academia Sinica to hire his son, Phillip Wu (吳孟真), as a visiting academic, the institution said yesterday after media reports that Phillip Wu won the post due to nepotism.
A distinguished fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Physics, Wu Maw-kuen became minister of education on April 19 last year, but resigned on May 29 after questions arose about a visit he made to China several years ago.
The Chinese-language China Times yesterday reported that Wu Maw-kuen has been trying to secure a research position for Phillip Wu in the physics institute, but failed, as the institute was not satisfied with Phillip Wu’s research.
To smooth Phillip Wu’s way to becoming a researcher, Academia Sinica would next month transfer Wu Maw-kuen from the institute to its Research Center for Applied Sciences to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, the report said, citing academics who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The physics institute’s Web site yesterday listed Phillip Wu, who received a doctorate from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, as an academic visiting from Sept. 1 last year to Aug. 31, but did not specify which institution he represented.
Academia Sinica secretary-general Peng Shin-kun (彭信坤) told a news conference that the report was false, as Wu Maw-kuen did not exert any pressure on the physics institute.
There is no space for such pressure, as Academia Sinica selects its personnel in accordance with strict standards, Peng said.
Phillip Wu started work with the physics institute when he was still in the US and is a visiting academic hosted by research fellow Chen Chii-dong (陳啟東), Peng said, adding that he is not paid.
Institute of Physics director Chang Chia-seng (張嘉升) said he did not receive any reports about Wu Maw-kuen’s transfer and researchers who are not qualified would not be employed.
Phillip Wu’s home institution was left blank because he is not a paid visiting academic, Chang said.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
RSS