A local Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chapter voted today to expel Presidential Office consultant Wu Shang-yu (吳尚雨) over reports that he is under investigation for spying on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Wu was “concealed among” President William Lai’s (賴清德) inner circle, “sold out Taiwan” and damaged the party’s reputation, the DPP’s Chiayi County branch said in a statement.
The branch's review committee held a disciplinary review meeting in line with party regulations, and passed a resolution to revoke Wu’s party membership, the most severe punishment it could impose, it said.
Photo courtesy of the DPP’s Chiayi County branch
The case is to be submitted to the DPP’s Central Review Committee for confirmation next week, upon which time the committee would convene immediately, central committee convenor Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) said.
The case would be prioritized due to the urgency and public nature of the case, he added.
As Wu does not hold a central party position, the local party branch holds the authority to decide his punishment, which would be confirmed by the central committee, he said.
Wu, who joined the party on Aug. 29, 2012, paid his party membership fees this year, so his membership is still valid, Chiayi County review committee convenor Hsieh Wen-hsun (謝汶勲) said.
The Chinese-language Mirror Media last week reported that Wu was detained without visitation rights alongside two other DPP members under suspicion of spying in contravention of the National Security Act (國安法).
The case is being handled by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, which has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Additional reporting by Chen Yun
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