The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday said it has expelled Ma Chih-wei (馬治薇), a former spokeswoman for its Taoyuan chapter, for contravening ethics rules and damaging the party’s reputation, after she was on Friday was investigated and detained for allegedly receiving campaign donations in the form of cryptocurrency from China.
Ma, an independent legislative candidate in Taoyuan, is also the first candidate to be put under pre-trial detention in the run-up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections.
The TPP yesterday afternoon issued a statement saying that as Ma is suspected of contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) and has been detained, the party’s central review committee determined to she had contravened the party’s ethics rules and seriously damaged the party’s reputation, so it expelled her.
Photo: CNA
It said that Ma had originally sought the party’s nomination as a legislative candidate, but as the party’s selection mechanism had concerns about her associations with China, it did not nominate her and later dismissed her from her duties in its Taoyuan chapter.
TPP Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that Ma had applied to run as a legislator, but failed to pass the TPP central review committee’s voting because they found she has close relations with China.
Ma later announced her candidacy as an independent, he said.
“We are still looking into the matter,” he added.
Regarding why he stood with Ma at a recent campaign event and took a photograph with her, Ko said it was impossible for him to know everyone’s background, and as his canvassing itinerary is open to the public, he cannot avoid anyone standing near him unless there is a security threat.
In response to the controversy, Ma’s campaign office issued a statement yesterday denying the claims that she is involved in any illegal activities that would harm Taiwan.
"Ma Chih-wei loves Taiwan and is an innocent young person," the statement said.
Separately, Taiwan Statebuilding Party Chairperson Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) yesterday said Ko often “denies” or “plays dumb” when faced with controversies, and that Ma’s case might only be the tip of the iceberg.
As Ko previously made a remark that “China wants me to run for president,” he should disclose the political donations that the TPP received as soon as possible, Wang said.
As the case showed how China is using cryptocurrencies to fund candidates in Taiwan to interfere the election, there might be more methods of cash transfer that have not been revealed, he said, adding that receiving donations through online livestreaming is also attracting attention, and that the TPP should also publicize the donations it received through its livestreaming programs.
Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan
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