Commenting for the first time in public on the case of defector Justin Lin (
He added, however, that, "The issues of criminal liability and human rights should be handled separately from each other."
Tang also stressed that as the Minister of National Defense, he had no power to interfere with military justice, but that the ministry's military justice department would deal with the matter in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, Political Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior Hsu Ing-shen said yesterday that the government was satisfied that Justin Lin is the man formerly known as Lin Cheng-yi (
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"I hope that the government sticks to its position. This is important. The government must ensure that justice is done," he said.
PFP Chairman James Soong (
Whether Lin will face prosecution -- a matter for the military justice department's investigation -- remains to be determined. The department has refused to comment as to when it will make a decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday that Lin's family had placed his father's body in its coffin though it was not confirmed whether the coffin had been sealed. Lin told a Taiwan TV station on Friday night in Beijing that he hoped to see his father's face one more time.
The government has agreed to allow Lin to enter the country. Lin said he would decide before tomorrow whether to do so. His father's funeral is Tuesday.
Lin's older brother, Lin Wan-sung (林旺松), said yesterday that the military should announce whether it intends to prosecute his brother before he makes his decision.
Lin Wan-sung made the comments at a press conference in Ilan, the family's hometown.
He also said that any charges of defection or treason against Lin would be unfounded.
"He did not take any battle plan with him. He just wanted to study in China," he said.
The family also said yesterday that it will return the NT$475,000 in compensation it received from the military in 1979 after Lin Cheng-yi was listed as missing.
Lin's wife, Chen Yun-ing (陳雲英), is expected to arrive in Taiwan today, and will represent him at his father's funeral if he decides not to return. Lin, now a distinguished scholar in China, applied last week for permission to come to Taiwan for his father's funeral and the Taiwan government granted him permission on Friday evening.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
RSS