The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday turned the spotlight on what it said was a potential for kickbacks to government officials and their relatives should an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) be signed between Taiwan and China.
The DPP promised to push for an investigation after reports showed that a number of senior officials have family or relatives involved in business with China.
While a business trip last week by Vice President Vincent Siew’s (蕭萬長) daughter, Joy Siew (蕭至佑), to the Boao Forum in China drew media attention, her case may be just the tip of the iceberg, DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said.
Another case cited by the DPP includes Premier Wu Den-yih’s (吳敦義) son, Wu Chi-lian (吳子廉), who was accused by lawmakers last year of involvement with Chinese firms in an attempted takeover of Nan Shan Life Insurance Co.
In addition, Liu Chao-kai (劉兆凱), chairman of TECO Electric and Machinery and brother of former premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄), is responsible for wind power investments into the Chinese market, the party said.
“We are asking that the government investigate whether any … senior official or their family members are involved in business dealings with China before [and if] an ECFA is signed in June,” Tsai said.
The spokesperson also said the government should take a closer look at whether any of the officials involved in cross-strait negotiations could potentially receive any benefits.
Liu Chien-sin (劉建忻), deputy director of policy research for the DPP, said the party had concerns that an ECFA, if signed, would benefit large corporations with business ties in China rather than small and medium companies.
A statement later released by the DPP said that both Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung’s (江丙坤) son and wife were involved in business deals that could be affected by cross-strait relations.
The party also said that a relative of former National Security Council secretary-general Su Chi (蘇起) has been involved in multimillion-dollar business deals in China.
“The people with the potential to receive kickbacks shouldn’t be asking themselves whether they can go [to China], but rather whether they should be going, or what they would be doing there,” Tsai said, adding that President Ma ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration hasn’t done enough to curb potential conflicts of interest.
“We want a thorough investigation of all cross-strait investments, business deals or any other activities that could result in kickbacks for cross-strait negotiators and [for the government] to deliver it to the public clearly,” Tsai said.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after the Czech officials confirmed that Chinese agents had surveilled Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) during her visit to Prague in March last year. Czech Military Intelligence director Petr Bartovsky yesterday said that Chinese operatives had attempted to create the conditions to carry out a demonstrative incident involving Hsiao, going as far as to plan a collision with her car. Hsiao was vice president-elect at the time. The MAC said that it has requested an explanation and demanded a public apology from Beijing. The CCP has repeatedly ignored the desires
Many Chinese spouses required to submit proof of having renounced their Chinese household registration have either completed the process or provided affidavits ahead of the June 30 deadline, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Thursday. Of the 12,146 people required to submit the proof, 5,534 had done so as of Wednesday, MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said. Another 2,572 people who met conditions for exemption or deferral from submitting proof of deregistration — such as those with serious illnesses or injuries — have submitted affidavits instead, he said. “As long as individuals are willing to cooperate with the legal
The Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant’s license has expired and it cannot simply be restarted, the Executive Yuan said today, ahead of national debates on the nuclear power referendum. The No. 2 reactor at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County was disconnected from the nation’s power grid and completely shut down on May 17, the day its license expired. The government would prioritize people’s safety and conduct necessary evaluations and checks if there is a need to extend the service life of the reactor, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference. Lee said that the referendum would read: “Do
Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said Saturday that she would not be intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), following reports that Chinese agents planned to ram her car during a visit to the Czech Republic last year. "I had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety," Hsiao said on social media platform X. "The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community," she wrote. Hsiao visited the Czech Republic on March 18 last year as vice president-elect and met with Czech Senate leadership, including
RSS