■Immigration
Lawmakers look to limit vote
DPP lawmakers yesterday urged the government to deny immigrants from China the right to vote until years after they have acquired ROC citizenship. DPP legislators Tang Huo-shen (湯火聖), Chien Chao-tong (簡肇棟) and Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) said citizens from across the Strait should be denied the right to vote until they have been citizens for seven years. They suggested attaching the measure to the rules governing cross-strait exchanges that are in the process of being overhauled by the legislature. Tang argued that Beijing's constant attempts to annex Taiwan and continued propaganda to achieve that aim warrant the delay. "Over 570,000 Chinese immigrants, long exposed to Beijing's communist propaganda, need more time to assimilate to Taiwanese society," he said. Su echoed the view, saying the delay would ease worries over national security arising from the rapid influx of Chinese immigrants.
■ Zanadau scandal
Su's release to be appealed
Kaohsiung Chief Prosecutor Lin Ching-tsung (林慶宗) yesterday said that he will appeal the Kaohsiung District Court's ruling to release Zanadau suspect Su Hui-chen (蘇惠珍) on Christmas Eve. The appeal will go to the Taiwan High Court's Kaohsiung Branch. Prosecutors requested the detention, saying Su played a major role in the alleged scandal and they needed her to clarify questions. Prosecutors are able to appeal within 20 days after receiving an official copy of the court order. Lin did not elaborate on when he would appeal. Su, the majority shareholder of Zanadau Development Corp, was summoned by prosecutors on Monday for interrogation. After being questioned for more than 24 hours, Kaohsiung prosecutors decided to file a request to the court to detain Su on charges of breach of trust. However, the court decided to release Su without charges.
■ Pornography
CPC to investigate charges
Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) chairman Kuo Chin-tsai (郭進財) yesterday morning promised to immediately look into allegations by PFP Legislator Ke Shu-min (柯淑敏) that a number of the company's gas stations were selling pornographic VCDs, Chinese-language media reported yesterday. According to the lawmaker, several CPC stations in central Taiwan sell pornographic VCDs at low prices in order to attract customers. Those who refuel at these stations can pay NT$49 (US$1.40) for a VCD. "No wonder my son always goes to CPC stations these days," she complained, demanding that the CPC look into the problem.
■ Justice
Suspect lives it up
Stock market player Huang Jen-chung (黃任中), who was detained for owing NT$1.4 billion to the National Tax Administration, appeared relaxed in court yesterday, eating peanuts and drinking soda prepared by his girlfriends. Huang, son of former Judicial Yuan president Huang Shao-ku (黃少谷), was summoned before the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) to explain his role in the Taiwan Pineapple case. Huang was indicted along with 19 other people in February 2000 for alleged illegal speculation on the Taiwan Pineapple Group. Huang -- as though sitting in his own living room -- enjoyed snacks, a fast-food breakfast and soda in the courtroom, not forgetting to invite his friends and journalists to share in the feast.
WANG RELEASED: A police investigation showed that an organized crime group allegedly taught their clients how to pretend to be sick during medical exams Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) and 11 others were released on bail yesterday, after being questioned for allegedly dodging compulsory military service or forging documents to help others avoid serving. Wang, 33, was catapulted into stardom for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代). Lately, he has been focusing on developing his entertainment career in China. The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office last month began investigating an organized crime group that is allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified documents. Police in New Taipei City Yonghe Precinct at the end of last month arrested the main suspect,
A cat named Mikan (蜜柑) has brought in revenue of more than NT$10 million (US$305,390) for the Kaohsiung MRT last year. Mikan, born on April 4, 2020, was a stray cat before being adopted by personnel of Kaohsiung MRT’s Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station. Mikan was named after a Japanese term for mandarin orange due to his color and because he looks like an orange when curled up. He was named “station master” of Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station in September 2020, and has since become famous. With Kaohsiung MRT’s branding, along with the release of a set of cultural and creative products, station master Mikan
LITTORAL REGIMENTS: The US Marine Corps is transitioning to an ‘island hopping’ strategy to counterattack Beijing’s area denial strategy The US Marine Corps (USMC) has introduced new anti-drone systems to bolster air defense in the Pacific island chain amid growing Chinese military influence in the region, The Telegraph reported on Sunday. The new Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Mk 1 is being developed to counter “the growing menace of unmanned aerial systems,” it cited the Marine Corps as saying. China has constructed a powerful defense mechanism in the Pacific Ocean west of the first island chain by deploying weapons such as rockets, submarines and anti-ship missiles — which is part of its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy against adversaries — the
Eleven people, including actor Darren Wang (王大陸), were taken into custody today for questioning regarding the evasion of compulsory military service and document forgery, the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said. Eight of the people, including Wang, are suspected of evading military service, while three are suspected of forging medical documents to assist them, the report said. They are all being questioned by police and would later be transferred to the prosecutors’ office for further investigation. Three men surnamed Lee (李), Chang (張) and Lin (林) are suspected of improperly assisting conscripts in changing their military classification from “stand-by
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