Taipei prosecutors are investigating suspected bribes connected to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) founder Terry Gou’s (郭台銘) presidential campaign, as the billionaire gathers signatures to run in next year’s election.
Thirteen people have been questioned over suspected cash payments offered in exchange for signatures in support of Gou’s presidential bid, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday.
Gou’s campaign has distanced itself from the suspects, repeating its earlier condemnation of illegal behavior.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The bribery investigation is the latest blow to Gou’s campaign. Chinese authorities last month announced a probe of the tech giant he founded.
Meanwhile, Gou and his running mate, Tammy Lai (賴佩霞), yesterday submitted petition signatures they collected to the Taipei City Election Commission.
“Today is a very important day. I am here to convey the aspirations of the Taiwanese people in pursuing democracy and freedom,” said Gou, who did not reveal the number of signatures filed.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Gou is required by law to collect 289,667 signatures, equivalent to 5 percent of eligible voters in the 2020 presidential election by today.
In related news, Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate, has said that Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) is “at the top” of the list of candidates he is considering as a running mate.
He made the remarks in a trailer aired on Tuesday for a TV interview with host Paul Lee (李四端).
In the interview clip, William Lai said he has a list of six possible vice presidential picks, of whom Hsiao and former minister of culture Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) have generated the most discussion.
Pressed by Lee on whether Hsiao is “at the top” of his list of potential running mates, Lai said: “Yeah, you could say that.”
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE: Beijing would likely intensify public opinion warfare in next year’s local elections to prevent Lai from getting re-elected, the ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’ said Internal documents from a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company indicated that China has been using the technology to intervene in foreign elections, including propaganda targeting Taiwan’s local elections next year and presidential elections in 2028, a Japanese newspaper reported yesterday. The Institute of National Security of Vanderbilt University obtained nearly 400 pages of documents from GoLaxy, a company with ties to the Chinese government, and found evidence that it had apparently deployed sophisticated, AI-driven propaganda campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan to shape public opinion, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. GoLaxy provides insights, situation analysis and public opinion-shaping technology by conducting network surveillance
‘POLITICAL GAME’: DPP lawmakers said the motion would not meet the legislative threshold needed, and accused the KMT and the TPP of trivializing the Constitution The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President William Lai (賴清德), saying he had undermined Taiwan’s constitutional order and democracy. The motion was approved 61-50 by lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who together hold a legislative majority. Under the motion, a roll call vote for impeachment would be held on May 19 next year, after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to defend himself. The move came after Lai on Monday last week did not promulgate an amendment passed by the legislature that
Taiwan is gearing up to celebrate the New Year at events across the country, headlined by the annual countdown and Taipei 101 fireworks display at midnight. Many of the events are to be livesteamed online. See below for lineups and links: Taipei Taipei’s New Year’s Party 2026 is to begin at 7pm and run until 1am, with the theme “Sailing to the Future.” South Korean girl group KARA is headlining the concert at Taipei City Hall Plaza, with additional performances by Amber An (安心亞), Nick Chou (周湯豪), hip-hop trio Nine One One (玖壹壹), Bii (畢書盡), girl group Genblue (幻藍小熊) and more. The festivities are to
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