Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Hsu Hsin-liang, a Man for All Junkets

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

Whether one is blue or green, there is a moneyed side to Taiwan politics that few know about and maybe even fewer want to know about. As in other countries, within that moneyed side are the financers and contributors who look for and support marketers who will promote their vested interests. These contributors search out people who regardless of party, will act on their behalf in the spotlight allowing them to remain in the background. On the receiving side of these contributions are the marketers (more coarsely the shills) who like chameleons can change color depending where the money is. Taiwan has several of these chameleons but perhaps the master bar none is Hsu Hsin-liang.

The case of the missing documents

Taipei Times Editorial

No matter how much the Presidential Office denies it, its latest allegation against former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government officials has raised the eyebrows of many skeptics who suspect a political motive.

On Tuesday, President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration accused 17 former officials who worked at the Presidential Office during the tenure of president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of failing to return documents to the national archives as required by law when Chen’s term ended in 2008. The 17 officials have been referred to the Control Yuan for investigation.

Chen officials deny keeping documents

Taipei Times

Officials from former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) administration yesterday denied accusations that thousands of official documents had yet to be returned, putting them in possible breach of national security protocol.

In a statement last night, the Presidential Office accused officials from Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration of failing to return documents — some classified — to national archives as required by law when Chen’s term ended in 2008.

Taiwan can help freedom to flower in East Asia

Nat Bellocchi 白樂崎

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the “Jasmine Revolution” in North Africa and said how important it was for Taiwan to stand on the right side of history (“A chance to stand on right side of history,” Feb. 24, page 8).

Inspired by the “Jasmine Revolutions” in Tunisia and Egypt, anonymous netizens in China broke through official Internet censorship to call for a “Jasmine Revolution” in 13 different cities. They urged people to simply “stroll” through public places in the named cities on Sunday afternoons and smile.

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