A former aide to the wife of Yao Chia-wen (
Lai Ching-mei (
The former aide told the magazine the toilet paper evidence was enough to "unseat another DPP chairman and threaten Yao's Examination Yuan presidency."
PHOTO: CNA
But when asked whether Lai had an affair with Yao, the woman was evasive.
In the magazine report, Yao denies Lai's allegations and said she was attempting to extort money from him so she could pay back her debts.
"I heard a long time ago that she tells people everywhere that she has some toilet paper that I left in bed four to five years ago," the magazine quoted Yao as saying. "But I'm not scared at all, because I don't have any involvement with [Lai]. I would say responsibly that there is no toilet paper."
Reports of Yao's infidelity have been widespread since May, when he began seeking the legislature's support for his confirmation as Examination Yuan president. But the allegations haven't been proven.
Yao and his wife, DPP legislator Chou Ching-yu (
`I love you'
During public appearances at the legislature, Yao would hold Chou's hand and he once told his wife "I love you" during a legislative session to review his nomination.
At his swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Yao and Chou were again dogged by questions about alleged extra-marital affairs.
Yao simply said that "local affairs are very complicated and there are always strange stories such as this."
Chou told reporters not to ask questions about the magazine story because "it wasn't the appropriate occasion."
According to Chou, Lai -- who failed twice in her bid to become deputy to the Changhua County Council -- blames Yao and Chou for not campaigning for her and is now trying to retaliate.
Lai served as an aide at Chou's office in Changhua County for seven years.
Lai reportedly is now working for a Changhua County Council deputy belonging to the DPP's New Tide faction, a rival faction to the Welfare State Alliance of which Yao is a member.
In the magazine interview, Lai admitted that she held a grudge against Yao and Chou and wanted to retaliate. Lai said she attempted suicide in January after failing in her second electoral bid, but Yao and Chou never visited her during the eight days she was hospitalized.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS