The government's crusade against "black-gold" politics is finally taking shape after two months of fiery oratory. On Wednesday evening former Pingtung County Council speaker Cheng Tai-chi
Cheng was just one of the many gangsters-turned-politicians in southern Taiwan -- a typical product of "black-gold" politics. Despite allegations of attempted murder and gambling, he was still able to run for one of the Pingtung county council seats in 1990. In five years, he steadily rose through the council ranks, to deputy council speaker and then speaker. As speaker, Cheng went all out to campaign for Wu Tse-yuan
Cheng shot his former friend in front of Chung's mother, who begged for her son's life. Cheng used his position of council speaker as a shield for illegal activities. He collected protection fees from "special businesses" such as gambling dens, night clubs and restaurants offering escort services. His men threatened journalists, beat up councilors who opposed him and vandalized the offices of newspapers that ran reports critical of him. Everyone was afraid to speak out against him -- even the local police chief stayed silent -- except for the DPP legislator Tsai Shih-yuan
doings to the Legislative Yuan.
Many have applauded Cheng's execution, even though there is considerable opposition to the death penalty. Cheng's execution was justice delivered late. His trial dragged on for six years and went through four re-trials in the Taiwan High Court. The re-trials revolved around exactly what time of the day the murder occurred and the exact number of shots Cheng and his men had fired at their victim in front of witnesses -- was it 16 or 17? Many believe the case would have dragged on endlessly if the KMT were still in power.
Yen Ching-piao is another example of someone who has become a prominent politician despite having alleged gangster ties. Yen rose from county councilor to Provincial Assembly deputy before being elected Taichung County Council speaker after the provincial government was downsized. Yen has been accused of running an illegal lottery and masterminding baseball gambling activities -- although so far investigators have found no evidence to support such claims. Meanwhile, his political star has continued to rise with his election to the chairmanship of the Chenlan Temple. Yen's support was sought by four of the five presidential candidates before the March election; he chose to back James Soong (宋楚瑜). He caused a political uproar recently when he demanded direct sea passage for a pilgrimage to a Matsu temple in Meizhou in China's Fujian Province.
The raid on Chenlan Temple seems to be aimed at checking the temple's account books and the rentals it collects from vendors. But the fact that the raid was carried out by the black-gold investigation center seems to indicate that Yen himself is the prime target -- and he has fled to Hong Kong. Because he supported Soong's presidential bid, legislators from the People's First Party are already slamming the government for "handling cases selectively" and targeting Yen.
The KMT has vowed to steer clear of "black-gold" politics, which multiplied like amoebas under its rule and for which it paid a dear price in the March election. The PFP would do well not to become its new patron.
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an investigation. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch joined their call and urged a thorough investigation into his death, highlighting the potential involvement of the Chinese government. At just 56 years old, Rinpoche was influential not only as a spiritual leader, but also for his steadfast efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan identity and cultural
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Former minister of culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) has long wielded influence through the power of words. Her articles once served as a moral compass for a society in transition. However, as her April 1 guest article in the New York Times, “The Clock Is Ticking for Taiwan,” makes all too clear, even celebrated prose can mislead when romanticism clouds political judgement. Lung crafts a narrative that is less an analysis of Taiwan’s geopolitical reality than an exercise in wistful nostalgia. As political scientists and international relations academics, we believe it is crucial to correct the misconceptions embedded in her article,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
RSS