Political figures alleged to have been involved bribe-taking related to the freeway electronic toll collection (ETC) contract -- including a lawmaker who accused fellow legislators of receiving sexual services from the contract-winning company -- yesterday staked their political lives on their innocence.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wei Ming-ku (
Yesterday during the meeting of the legislature's Transportation Committee, DPP Legislator Kuo Wen-chen (
PHOTO: CNA
Kuo's remarks incurred the wrath of independent Legislator Chen Chin-ting (
While Kuo responded by asking why Chen had declared his innocence when he had not yet specifically named anyone, other committee members suddenly proclaimed their innocence, saying that they had not taken any illicit money in connection with the ETC case.
DPP Legislator Wang Tuo (
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Tseng Yung-chuan (
Wei accused Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"Nobody ever asked me to help secure the bid, nor did I ever contact any ETC bid committee members. There is no way that I was involved in this case," Wang told a press conference yesterday.
Cho, who quit as a legislator after winning the Changhua County commissioner election last December, told the press that he would quit his commissioner's post and withdraw from politics if he was found guilty of any involvement in corruption.
"I will quit my job and never participate in politics again," Wei told a press conference.
"As a legislator, didn't I have a duty to report illegal conduct of government officials in the legislature?" Wei asked.
Wei said that the KMT caucus should demand the government step up the investigation into the ETC case rather than ask him to resign.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
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