The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday called for a judicial probe into a potential conflict of interest and allegations of profiteering by Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) and his family through their “strong generation” (壯世代) programs.
Besides founding the Strong Generation Association in August 2021, Wu also set up several companies, organization and social enterprises headed by Wu or his family members, DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said.
“It is a business empire covering many sectors, all controlled by Wu’s family, who serve as company president or chairperson, to profit from government contracts,” she said, accusing Wu Chun-cheng of abuse of power.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Wu Chun-cheng founded the Jet-Go Consulting Group (戰國策傳播集團), later spinning off several firms which are headed by his wife, Chang Mei-hui (張美慧). They include Pulse Research Consulting Co (民意傳播顧問公司), Popcorn Digital Information Co (爆米花數位資訊), Zhuang Shi Dai Social Enterprise (壯世代社會企業), Great Society (大社會) and Soundline Consulting (順律國際顧問).
Over the years, Wu Chun-cheng and his family businesses won NT$1.1 billion (US$33.5 million) of contracts from the central and local governments, many of which are related to the promotion of the term “strong generation,” the caucus said.
Wu Chun-cheng also pushed to pass the Act Promoting Development for Strong Generation Policies and Industries (壯世代政策與產業發展促進法) to his benefit, it added.
“He has abused his position as a TPP lawmaker for personal profits, clearly breaching conflict of interest regulations covering elected officials. It is hypocritical of the TPP, which has espoused ‘clean ethics’ and said its members must not engage in actions that might involve a conflict of interest and must not profit from their position as legislators,” Rosalia Wu said.
Wu Chun-cheng has denied any conflict of interest over the legislation he pushed hard to pass, saying he had resigned from all positions in the association and has no power to make decisions.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS