The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday said it has expelled Ma Chih-wei (馬治薇), a former spokeswoman for its Taoyuan chapter, for contravening ethics rules and damaging the party’s reputation, after she was on Friday was investigated and detained for allegedly receiving campaign donations in the form of cryptocurrency from China.
Ma, an independent legislative candidate in Taoyuan, is also the first candidate to be put under pre-trial detention in the run-up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections.
The TPP yesterday afternoon issued a statement saying that as Ma is suspected of contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) and has been detained, the party’s central review committee determined to she had contravened the party’s ethics rules and seriously damaged the party’s reputation, so it expelled her.
Photo: CNA
It said that Ma had originally sought the party’s nomination as a legislative candidate, but as the party’s selection mechanism had concerns about her associations with China, it did not nominate her and later dismissed her from her duties in its Taoyuan chapter.
TPP Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that Ma had applied to run as a legislator, but failed to pass the TPP central review committee’s voting because they found she has close relations with China.
Ma later announced her candidacy as an independent, he said.
“We are still looking into the matter,” he added.
Regarding why he stood with Ma at a recent campaign event and took a photograph with her, Ko said it was impossible for him to know everyone’s background, and as his canvassing itinerary is open to the public, he cannot avoid anyone standing near him unless there is a security threat.
In response to the controversy, Ma’s campaign office issued a statement yesterday denying the claims that she is involved in any illegal activities that would harm Taiwan.
"Ma Chih-wei loves Taiwan and is an innocent young person," the statement said.
Separately, Taiwan Statebuilding Party Chairperson Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) yesterday said Ko often “denies” or “plays dumb” when faced with controversies, and that Ma’s case might only be the tip of the iceberg.
As Ko previously made a remark that “China wants me to run for president,” he should disclose the political donations that the TPP received as soon as possible, Wang said.
As the case showed how China is using cryptocurrencies to fund candidates in Taiwan to interfere the election, there might be more methods of cash transfer that have not been revealed, he said, adding that receiving donations through online livestreaming is also attracting attention, and that the TPP should also publicize the donations it received through its livestreaming programs.
Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS