Nantou County Commissioner Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) yesterday defended the county government’s decision to decline an invitation to attend a food expo in Xiamen, China, saying the county is open to participating in international exhibitions that help promote local agricultural products, but the invitation came at short notice.
The event is to be held at the Xiamen International Expo Center from June 5 to 7, and would be attended by the China Food and Drug Corporation Quality and Safety Promotion Association, and other government-related organizations, according to the invitation.
The invitation mentioned the 10 “preferential policies” announced by the Chinese government following the April 7 meeting between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
Photo: Chang Hsieh-sheng, Taipei Times
Nantou County’s agricultural products are well-loved by Chinese, the invitation said, adding that the event hosts believed the expo would be the best place to showcase the county’s excellent produce.
Exhibit set-up costs would be waived, but participants would have to fund their travel to and from the expo, as well as room and board, it said.
A source said on condition of anonymity that the invitation was extended through Chiang Cheng-lung (蔣成龍) and Lo Yung-heng (羅永恒), who hold leadership roles with the Republic of China Military Academy Alumni Association.
Lo also serves as deputy chairman of the KMT’s military veterans’ wing.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) often approaches retired military officials and attempts to blur the lines between the Republic of China Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The CCP during alumni meetings, military history seminars or commemorative events slip in the narrative that the KMT and the CCP “share the same roots,” and that the two “are the same army,” she said.
The “Whampoa spirit” is geared toward the defense of Taiwan, Lin said, calling on the Ministry of National Defense and the Veterans Affairs Council to investigate whether the events, subsidies or use of government resources by the alumni association or other retired military veterans’ groups went toward furthering “united front” rhetoric.
If they were, it should be examined whether such subsidies could be recovered, as the government should not subsidize the promotion of such rhetoric, Lin added.
Any group that has a history of acting or speaking in line with CCP propaganda, or undermines the nation’s sovereignty should not be eligible for government subsidies, she said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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