Taiwan - Articles - Zimbio

Taiwan Ex-leader Chen Shui-bian formally detained

Tue, 12 Nov 2008 01:19:00 GMT

posted by yours

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s former president Chen Shui-bian was formally detained Wednesday after a bid by prosecutors to take him into custody was approved by a court, officials said.

“The court has approved prosecutors’ request to detain Chen after an overnight hearing,” an official at the Taipei district court said.

Chen is the first former Taiwanese president to be formally taken into custody in a graft scandal that has gripped the island for months.

Police have tightened security around the Tucheng detention centre where Chen will be held amid threats from his supporters to launch protests against what they say was an “unfair trial.”

Chen was arrested Tuesday on charges of money laundering, embezzling government funds, taking bribes and forging documents, a spokesman for the investigation said.

A defiant Chen put his handcuffed hands in the air as he stepped out of the prosecutor’s office and shouted “political persecution” before getting into a waiting car.

The court hearing to decide if prosecutors could detain him had to be suspended late Tuesday as the ex-Taiwan president was taken to hospital saying he was attacked by a court policeman during his arrest and suffered injuries.

The prosecutors flatly rejected Chen’s accusation.

“The former president was handcuffed and escorted to take the waiting car, all witnessed by his lawyers…. The former president’s accusation was totally untrue,” a spokesman for the prosecutors said.

The court later resumed the hearing.

Chen, who retired in May after eight years in power, is under investigation for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (480,500 US) from the government.

Under interrogation Tuesday, Chen chose not to answer some questions.

He has accused the China-friendly Kuomintang government of persecuting him under pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province to be reunified with China, by force if necessary.

“The KMT and the Chinese Communist Party see me as their number one prisoner as I am the biggest stone blocking their way to reunification,” the pro-independence Chen told reporters.

He accused his successor, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou, of pursuing a political agenda and punishing him for violent demonstrations during a visit by Beijing’s top envoy to the island last week.

“Ma Ying-jeou wants to put me in jail as a sacrifice to appease China,” he said.

The Chinese envoy’s historic visit to Taipei strengthened economic ties between China and Taiwan but was marred by huge anti-Beijing protests that left scores injured.

Chen’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) immediately cried foul after Tuesday’s arrest, saying it was politically motivated.

But Kuomintang lawmaker Lee Ching-hua hailed the move as “belated justice.”

Chen has previously admitted using false receipts to claim money from the state, but insisted those funds were used for “secret diplomatic missions,” not personal benefit.

The ex-leader, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in a separate money laundering case.

Taiwanese prosecutors say 21 million US dollars was sent to Swiss bank accounts belonging to Chen’s daughter-in-law in 2007. The funds have since been frozen.

Chen has admitted his wife wired 20 million US dollars abroad from past campaign funds but said she did so without his knowledge. He denies laundering money.

Food Writer?

Sat, 16 Nov 2008 02:06:00 GMT

posted by Okeefe225
By Michael Patrick Okeefe

Following four months in Taiwan with my tai-tai, I began writing about some of my adventures with the Taiwanese people, locale, and cuisine in a blog devoted to my experiences -- zaijianhualien.blogspot.com. Since I’ve been writing the “zai jian” blog, I’ve learned that many readers seem interested in descriptions of Taiwanese fare and recommendations for good restaurants on the “beautiful isle”. Accordingly, when my tai-tai suggested that we check out a free “workshop” on “culinary writing”, I thought it would be a good idea. After all, I’m always interested in learning something about the craft.

The workshop was held in a small “fusion” cuisine spot in the downtown area. The menu looked fascinating, but unfortunately, we missed the appetizers preceding the event, and the restaurant was not serving any food. What a missed opportunity! What a disappointment. My tai-tai and I were hungry, too.

We sat through a 75 to 80 minute panel discussion featuring two local “culinary writers”. During the panel discussion, we did not have the opportunity to drink or eat, not even so much as water and bread. Talking about food in an interesting restaurant without the opportunity to dine or imbibe was, well, extremely disappointing and more than a bit odd.

I learned very little about culinary writing. The panel informed us we should blog – a stroke of insight that seemed as astute as exhorting a hooker to wear short skirts. The suggested methodology for writing a restaurant review was to eat, take notes, talk to the chef, and then write a review. As far as cookbooks, the panel seemed to agree that if you discovered a favorite recipe from another source and changed at least three ingredients, you could rip off the recipe at will! Now that was good information! Be on the lookout for my next series of cookbooks, titled “Uncle Mikey Rips Off the Masters”! lol

The panel seemed far more interested in discussing sustainable agriculture, “food scarcity”, “food necessity”, and the evils of the modern corporate food enterprise. I learned that “food scarcity” describes what we used to refer to as “famine”, while “food necessity” describes the condition a person experiences when hungry. Apparently, it is no longer politically correct to say that a particular country or region suffers from famine, or that a starving person is hungry. Hell, I probably shouldn’t even say that a person is starving – perhaps I should simply indicate that the subject individual is suffering from extreme dietary imbalance brought on by a lack of nutrition! In other words, the mother-fucker is starving!

Ladies and gentlemen, if we can no longer say that “portions of the world are experiencing famine”, or that “a homeless person is hungry”, we are truly lost. Whatever western culture and literature once were, they are no more. Forget the economy, the bail out, or your shrinking 401k. The only evidence that you need to verify that we have gone to hell and that the world is coming to an end – is that we can’t say “famine”, “hungry”, or “starving” anymore! We have entered an era of political correctness and nazification of language that would baffle even George Orwell.

By the end of the discussion, my tai-tai’s stomach was growling, and we could not stay long to network with this remarkable group of sustainers, necessity analysts, and scarcity observers. However, I did leave feeling that the group suffered from a famine of thought brought on by a hunger for new ideas that could probably be remedied with a big ‘ol bowl of common sense!

Go Taiwan Go!!

Sun, 27 Oct 2008 20:12:00 GMT

posted by mamah2002

I was reading the Sunday paper and came across this article. I love Taiwan!! They are fighting for their freedom with big China breathing down their neck. I know people there don't take their freedom for granted. How can they? I almost wish I could have been there marching with them!

Taiwan protesters oppose talks with China
Marchers say the government is making too many concessions in trying to improve trade and relations.
By Mark Magnier
October 26, 2008
Reporting from Beijing -- Tens of thousands of protesters in Taipei, Taiwan, marched Saturday against an upcoming visit by a senior Chinese envoy, fearful that China is trying to assert control over the island.

The demonstration, organized by Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party, presents a challenge to President Ma Ying-jeou, who has made improved trade, political and cultural relations a cornerstone of his administration.

Protesters, some wearing "Defend Taiwan" or "Stop Selling Taiwan!" T-shirts, accused Ma of making too many concessions to China, moving too quickly and endangering the island's unique identity.

"We're against being together with China," said Yeh Tsai-chu, 54, a businessman living in the city of Taoyuan near Taipei. "We fear we will be like China one day, with no freedom of speech or religion."

Former President Chen Shui-bian, whose eight-year tenure was marked by anti-China policies, mercurial decision-making and several corruption scandals, joined the march. People snaked for several miles over three hours in the afternoon, ending near the presidential palace.

Under Ma's initiative, China and Taiwan held talks on improved relations in June, the first in almost a decade; launched regular direct flights between the two; and allowed more mainland tourists to visit the island. Ma told military leaders last week that there would be no war with China during his four-year term.

China and Taiwan separated in 1949 after a protracted civil war. Beijing considers the self-governed island part of its territory and has vowed to prevent it from declaring independence, by force if necessary.

A second round of talks is scheduled for November between Chen Yunlin, chairman of China's semiofficial Assn. for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, and his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Pin-kung.

Analysts said public discontent has been fueled by pocketbook and safety concerns.

"If the economy were better, I think there would be more support for improved cross-Strait relations," said Chao Chien-min, a professor at National Chengchi University. "This has allowed the opposition party to argue that the government is not attending to people's interests."

Magnier is a Times staff writer.

Taiwan's ex-leader detained in graft probe

Tue, 12 Nov 2008 03:06:19 GMT

posted by pcorp2008

by Benjamin Yeh TAIPEI (AFP) --

Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian, accused of graft during his time in office, was detained Wednesday after a court approved a bid by prosecutors to take him into custody, officials said.

Chen, implicated in several scandals during his eight years in power, was arrested Tuesday, accused of money laundering, embezzling government funds, taking bribes and forging documents.

Chen, the first former Taiwanese president to be taken into custody, was transferred to a detention centre outside Taipei following an overnight hearing, a court official said.

The former leader, who retired in May, is accused of embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars (480,500 US) from the government while he was president.

Chen, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in a separate money laundering case.

Police have tightened security around the detention centre amid threats from his supporters to launch protests against what they say is an "unfair" detention.

The pro-independence Chen reiterated Wednesday that he was being persecuted by the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) government in a statement read out by his lawyer to reporters.

"The case is a political persecution and a political witch hunt. Former president Chen decides not to appeal the decision (to detain him) in a protest," the statement said.

His hearing began late Tuesday but was interrupted for several hours after he demanded a medical check-up, saying he was attacked by police while he was taken out of the prosecutor's office in handcuffs.

A defiant Chen put his handcuffed hands in the air as he stepped out of the office and shouted "political persecution" before getting into a waiting car.

Chen's lawyer said he suffered an injury to his right elbow when a policeman pushed his hands down.

But prosecutors flatly rejected Chen's accusation.

"The former president was handcuffed and escorted to the waiting car, all witnessed by his lawyers.... The police did not attack him," a spokesman for the prosecutors said.

Before Tuesday's interrogation, Chen blasted the government for persecuting him under pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

"The KMT and the Chinese Communist Party see me as their number one prisoner as I am the biggest stone blocking their way to reunification," he said.

He has accused his successor, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, of pursuing a political agenda and punishing him for violent demonstrations during a visit by Beijing's top envoy to the island last week.

The Chinese envoy's historic visit to Taipei strengthened economic ties between China and Taiwan but was marred by huge anti-Beijing protests that left scores injured.

Chen has previously admitted using false receipts to claim money from the state, but insisted those funds were used for "secret diplomatic missions," not personal benefit.

In the separate money-laundering case, Taiwanese prosecutors say 21 million US dollars was sent to Swiss bank accounts belonging to Chen's daughter-in-law in 2007. The funds have since been frozen.

Chen has admitted his wife wired 20 million US dollars abroad from past campaign funds but said she did so without his knowledge. He denies laundering money.

A total of eight people, including the ex-leader, his brother-in-law and several of his former top aides, have so far been detained for their roles in the scandals implicating the former first family, prosecutors said.

Taiwan President Meets With Senior Mainland Official

Wed, 6 Nov 2008 12:18:03 GMT

posted by argh2xxx

Posted by god 34 minutes ago (http://www.voanews.com)
Category: World

Despite rowdy protest on the streets of Taipei, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has met with the Chinese envoy who signed historic cross-strait transportation deals earlier this week