Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

The effect of purchasing influence on governance

Chang Kuo-tsai 張國財

To contend that elections in Taiwan are a money pit would meet little challenge. There is little doubt, either, that major financial groups play the role of banker in the background, funding campaigns — either willingly or under duress — through political donations.

Lawyer to Ma’s father sues KMT elites over assets

Taipei Times

Lawyer and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member George Wang yesterday prepares to file a lawsuit with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office over the unexplained loss of value of the party’s assets.
Photo: Chien Li-chung, Taipei Times

George Wang (王可富), lawyer and former legal consultant to Ma Ho-ling (馬鶴凌), yesterday filed suit against 13 elite members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — including President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) — accusing them of breach of trust and embezzling NT$200 billion (US$6.3 billion) worth of party assets.

“Ma Ying-jeou is behind the unexplained depreciation of party assets,” Wang said as he filed the suit with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office.

Response to allegations lacking

Taipei Times Editorial

Over the past few weeks, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been swamped by allegations of dubious relations with Ting Hsin International Group (頂新國際集團). Despite the Presidential Office’s repeated denials, dismissing the claims as fabricated accusations, public doubts over Ma’s integrity continue to grow as more allegations surface.

Renouncing independence an error

Taipei Times Editorial

With the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) prospects of becoming the next ruling party having brightened considerably after the Nov. 29 nine-in-one elections last year, pundits and academics are wasting no time to say that the biggest obstacle to its takeover of the presidency will be its cross-strait policy, or the lack thereof.

It is without doubt important for the next government to have a systematic and well-considered policy framework underlying its dealings with Taiwan’s powerful neighbor, but it is equally worrying that some are eager to show their willingness to be led by the Chinese government in terms of the “unification agenda.”

More Articles...