Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday visited the military airbase at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) to probe alleged misuse of funds by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on his one-day visit to Japan last week, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accused the opposition of neglecting its duty to review budgets.
The “inspection tour” of the Songshan Air Command Center was headed by KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), joined by fellow KMT legislators Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭) and Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐), as part of this week’s official work agenda for the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.
Legislative committee conveners for the current session were chosen on Wednesday, with KMT Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) and DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) winning the vote as conveners of the committee, taking turns to set the agenda.
Photo: CNA
Ma had set the agenda for this and next week, listing an official “inspection tour” to the command center for legislators on the committee to find out if Cho had used public funds.
DPP legislators declined the invitation to join, saying they are not interested in helping the KMT “put on a show” for the media to denigrate the premier.
KMT lawmakers have accused Cho of abusing his authority as premier by using the military airbase to board a chartered flight for Japan to watch a World Baseball Classic game in Tokyo.
Cho said he paid for the personal trip out-of-pocket and it was not on an official visit.
Hsu said legislators have a duty to scrutinize government officials and their use of public funds.
The trio’s inspection aimed to find if Cho and his entourage used the airbase, and investigate the procedures for their entering and boarding the plane.
DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) condemned the KMT for the “inspection tour,” saying it was trying to make noise by insinuating wrongdoing by Cho, when the priority should be reviewing the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.25 billion) special defense budget and the central government’s general operating budget for this year.
“The KMT is doing everything to delay and impede the review process, as Ma has put on the committee’s agenda for this and next week sessions questioning the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Compatriot Commission and other agencies to do anything but review the special defense budget,” she said.
Separately, DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said the command center is next to Taipei International Airport, which most people know is jointly used for civilian aviation and the air force.
Chung called on the KMT not to distort the matter, as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) and other business tycoons have also used the airstrip.
“These cases would need prior application, checks and approval, to have personal chartered aircraft taking off and landing at Songshan Air Command Center,” he said. “Songshan airport for commercial flights is managed by the Civil Aviation Administration. The defense ministry’s Air Force Command is in charge of the military airbase, which is mainly utilized by military transport aircraft and for government administrative work by Cabinet ministers and top officials.”
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