Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Dear Chairperson Tsai,

Just before the Lunar New Year break, the Philippine authorities took it upon themselves to extradite 14 Taiwanese suspected of criminal activities in their country to China, disregarding Taiwanese sovereignty. The move was widely seen as showing a lack of respect to our country. It was also a turn of events that enraged a lot of people here in Taiwan.

We believe that this was not simply a result of the Philippines’ adherence to the “one China” policy. We feel that it reveals something decidedly more sinister happening stage left. We suggest that Beijing had a hand in writing the script of this particular play, a collaborative effort with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and the government he heads. How does the expression go? Thick as thieves.

Greater Kaohsiung prosecutors yesterday said they had no position on whether former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) should serve a lengthy jail sentence until she reports to Taichung Prison’s Pei Teh Hospital on Friday to undergo an evaluation, which will determine if she is fit enough to serve her term.

Wu’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), said he hoped doctors at the hospital would visit Wu in Greater Kaohsiung to assess her health rather than force her to travel to Greater Taichung.