Renowned Taiwanese chef Cheng Yen-chi (鄭衍基), better known as A-chi-shih (阿基師), yesterday dismissed speculation that he had sex with a woman he was photographed with entering a motel, saying that they had merely “hugged and had mouth-to-mouth contact.”
Cheng made the remarks at a press conference in Taipei yesterday afternoon, during which he bowed deeply to a large group of reporters before acknowledging that everything reported by the Chinese-language Next Magazine was true.
The 60-year-old chef-turned-TV personality was referring to an article in yesterday’s edition of the magazine, which alleges that Cheng arrived outside the WeGo Motel on Taipei’s Linsen N Road on a motorcycle at approximately 8pm on Dec. 2 before hopping into a black car being driven by a long-haired, middle-aged woman.
Photo: Chen I-chuan, Taipei Times
The article said that the pair then drove into the Bellezza Taipei Hotel in Zhongshan District (中山) and stayed there for nearly 40 minutes, adding that the woman subsequently dropped Cheng off where he had parked his motorcycle.
The magazine added that it was not the first time Cheng has been spotted entering a motel with the woman, alleging that they also spent 30 minutes at the WeGo Motel on Nov. 20.
“The woman pictured by Next Magazine’s paparazzi is a 40-year-old fan of my cooking show, surnamed Chen (陳)... I became acquainted with her after she started asking me about my cooking skills in private ... because as a worker in the service sector for decades, I do not turn down my customers’ requests without good reason,” Cheng told the press conference.
Cheng, who was once voted the nation’s most eligible bachelor, said he gradually established an emotional bond with Chen and began helping her deal with distress caused by financial issues.
The chef said he met with Chen on Dec. 2 to “enlighten her on her problems,” but she then drove him into the Bellezza without consulting him first, saying she wanted to talk in a quieter place.
“We did not go into the room and stayed in the car the whole time, but I have to admit that we did hug and had mouth-to-mouth contact when we were overwhelmed with emotions,” Cheng said.
Cheng said his wife was informed of every meeting they had, and he even told her that Chen was rather passionate about him, adding that he did not harbor any “dirty thoughts” about Chen despite her addressing him as “Dear hubby” in several text messages.
He then apologized to the public and urged Chen to stand on her own feet from now on because his kindness in helping her put him in an awkward predicament.
“I am innocent and both my wife and daughters are very supportive of me. [One of] my daughters called me this morning, telling me that she supports me because [she knows] her father is not a playboy,” Cheng said.
RESPONSE: The transit sends a message that China’s alignment with other countries would not deter the West from defending freedom of navigation, an academic said Canadian frigate the Ville de Quebec and Australian guided-missile destroyer the Brisbane transited the Taiwan Strait yesterday morning, the first time the two nations have conducted a joint freedom of navigation operation. The Canadian and Australian militaries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Ministry of National Defense declined to confirm the passage, saying only that Taiwan’s armed forces had deployed surveillance and reconnaissance assets, along with warships and combat aircraft, to safeguard security across the Strait. The two vessels were observed transiting northward along the eastern side of the Taiwan Strait’s median line, with Japan being their most likely destination,
GLOBAL ISSUE: If China annexes Taiwan, ‘it will not stop its expansion there, as it only becomes stronger and has more force to expand further,’ the president said China’s military and diplomatic expansion is not a sole issue for Taiwan, but one that risks world peace, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that Taiwan would stand with the alliance of democratic countries to preserve peace through deterrence. Lai made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times). “China is strategically pushing forward to change the international order,” Lai said, adding that China established the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, launched the Belt and Road Initiative, and pushed for yuan internationalization, because it wants to replace the democratic rules-based international
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,
RSS