One thing about Taiwanese politics: It never disappoints.
Even in the remotest of areas, scandals and bagua can brew. The latest in a long string of scandalous episodes involves Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taitung County Commissioner Kuang Li-chen (鄺麗貞).
Kuang gained a reputation as a jet-setter after taking eight trips abroad in her two-and-a-half years in office at a cost to taxpayers of NT$10 million (US$320,000) or roughly NT$1.2 million per trip.
A little background is in order. Wu Chun-li (吳俊立), Kuang’s ex-husband, had been the KMT Taitung County commissioner, but after being found guilty of corruption and serving a jail sentence — he appealed, but it was overthrown — he could no longer serve as Taitung County commissioner.
Stymied in his efforts to serve as commissioner, he wanted to keep the lucrative position in the family and arranged for Kuang, his wife and a former airline stewardess, to succeed him.
Again the law stepped in — because of her relationship as his wife, Kuang was forbidden from running for office.
Not to worry. Now comes the interesting twist.
As her jailed husband was an impediment blocking her from running for office, Kuang quickly divorced him, qualifying her to run.
Allegedly the importance of family values is a high priority for Chinese and Taiwanese.
This is no doubt true for many, but for Kuang being county commissioner seemed to rank a tad higher on the value scale.
The convenience of this arrangement was approved by the KMT and their then party chairman, none other than Mr Clean and Family Values Man himself, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Ma subsequently campaigned for her; after all, what is divorce when there is an office to be won?
And that is precisely what which Kuang did.
The plot thickens.
Taitung County has a population of around 240,000, while its largest city is Taitung, with a population of 40,000.
Primarily an agricultural county, it is not a prime travel spot, yet it does have some unique sites.
There is Green Island — the prison of choice for political prisoners during the KMT’s White Terror days, and Orchid Island, known for its unique Aboriginal culture that prizes flying fish.
Taitung is also far from being a rich county. Few families there could earn in one year what it cost for one of Kuang’s trips.
Undaunted, Kuang decided it was her duty to make Taitung known to the world. Purely out of love for her county she launched into eight junkets that would take her to Japan, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Thailand, New Zealand, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
She would leave no stone unturned in letting the world know about Taitung.
So strong also were her family values that she took her mother and her former (divorced-so-she-could-get-into-office) husband along with her.
What dedication, what love! It was all at taxpayer expense, of course.
Kuang was quoted as saying: “No one sympathizes with Taitung, but I am willing to step up and fight for Taitung’s future.”
She had long considered Taitung an orphan among Taiwan’s counties. With a typhoon recently barreling down on it and devastation sure to follow, Kuang decided it was time to head for the airport for yet another trip abroad.
Such love and dedication, it was all done for Taitung’s future — its future debt that is.
Jerome Keating is a Taiwan-based writer.
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