Corruption in Taiwan       
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★  The Diplomat (US), 2024-9-11: The allegations against the former presidential candidate raise questions about pervasive corruption at all levels of government.  Corruption and patronage are "in the DNA" of local politics.  while legislators (law makers) must declare their interests, there is no such requirement for local representatives. “All the money laundering and things like that can be done by these local officials for their big brothers in the legislature”.  Almost all  [high-level] politicians come from local politics,  a bottom-up spoils system is thus cultivated.  thediplomat.com/2024/09/the-ko-wen-je-case-points-to-deeper-problems-in-taiwan-politics/

　

★  War On The Rocks (2024-9-20): Washington is quietly watching how Taiwan's new president Lai consolidates power, using the court to prosecute former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan over corruption allegations.  Cheng's arrest reflects an intra-party political struggle between a pair of long-time rivals.  The arrest and detention of Taiwan People's Party chairman and former Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je on corruption charges, as well as a number of corruption cases involving Kuomintang (KMT) officials have Lai's critics protesting that he is using the judiciary to persecute rivals.  Washington observers might worry that Lai is undermining the independence of the judicial system...

　

★  Financial Times (UK), 2024-9-6: Ko Wen-je's arrest rekindles debate over widespread corruption surrounding development projects and public procurement, as well as the independence of the judiciary.   Taiwan slid in Transparency International's global corruption perceptions index, and its score dropped slightly for the first time since Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.  Opposition accusations of DPP officials abusing their positions and engaging in corruption contributed to Lai receiving the lowest winning vote share in 24 years in a three-way presidential race. The DPP also lost its parliamentary majority.  Prosecutors' swift moves against Cheng and Ko have prompted Taiwanese commentators to question whether president Lai Ching-te was “cleaning house” of political rivals or pushing an anti-corruption crackdown to win back public support ( at the same time divert attention from the current chaos in domestic politics).    ft.com/content/65c8f0f5-de31-4f10-89cb-b2f5acfddc2b

　

Former Taiwan Presidential Hopeful Arrested for Corruption (suspected of the crime of "Abuse of Public Power for Private Profit")
After being released by the court at 2024-9-2, the Chair of TPP (second largest opposition party) Ko Wen-je told reporters he experienced "extreme oppression, mistreatment and abuses" (「極盡壓迫跟凌虐」) by prosecutors during two days' detention.
★
Council on Foreign Relations, 2024-9-3

Ko Wen-je──accuses the government of attempting to “suppress” its opponents and the press and judiciary of “being the government’s political tools.”
★
Asia Nikkei (Japan), 2024-9-5
Taiwan's Ko Wen-je accuses government of witch hunt ... and launched broadsides against the legal system and the press, accusing them of doing the bidding of President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party..."the judiciary and the media being the government's political tools" ( the KMT's most powerful lawmaker, that most legal professionals only listen to the DPP)
★  Bloomberg, 2024-8-31 Ko Wen-je was taken into custody due to concerns about possible collusion, after he refused to continue overnight questioning.  Ko, a surprisingly popular third-party candidate in the latest Taiwan’s presidential race, garnered almost 27% of the vote.  The arrest of Ko is the latest incident in a series of investigations into Taiwanese politicians for corruption or misconduct since President Lai took office in May this year. yahoo.com/news/former-taiwan-opposition-leader-held-040739807.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
★  Mainichi (Japan), 2024-8-31 Authorities arrested TPP founder and chairman Ko Wen-je around 2 a.m. The TPP holds the balance of power in Taiwan's parliament with both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the main opposition Nationalist Party failing to secure a majority. Ko said it is the first time in Taiwan's history that the home and office of a major opposition party leader, as well as a party headquarters, have been searched. He called for authorities to explain what evidence they have to take such action.mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240831/p2g/00m/0in/027000c
★  Reuters, 2024-8-31  the Taiwan People's Party which Ko heads, in a statement said it "calls on the court to carefully examine the legality of the arrest procedure during the arraignment process, and to return justice to Chairman Ko Wen-je as he deserves".  Ko's TPP won passionate support especially among young people, for putting issues like the high cost of housing and low wages at the centre of his campaign.
Video: yahoo.com/news/former-mayor-taipei-ko-wen-154613264.html
★  ABC News, 2024-9-1 Ko did particularly well among young people despite having no clear political platform. He flirted briefly with both the DPP and Nationalists but was unable to come to terms on an alliance, leaving him with few political allies outside his own supporters. Once a major problem, political corruption has declined as a top concern amid a strengthening of the power of independent investigatorsarticula
★  United Daily (聯合報) ,  2024-9-7 Why do the prosecutors inactive to these cases 光電案、超思進口雞蛋案、小吃店採購快篩案、疫苗案、口罩案 that the ruling party involved for years? Double standard is political persecution !
★  United Daily (聯合報) ,  2024-9-7 The prosecutors only handled (DPP) Cheng Wen-tsan's one small corruption case since it was found seven long years, by contrast, they (羅織) cooked up or fabulated (TPP) Ko Wen-je's six or seven cases within just six months. (多案同時被攪在一起查辦。兩案對比，不僅有明顯的選擇痕跡，辦案力道也大不相同。)  udn.com/news/story/7338/8212238?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2    Why don't the prosecutors search and investigate DPP's Secretary General Lin Yuchang (林右昌) in the same way as they did to Ko ?
★  China Times (中國時報),  2024-9-8 The prosecutor's rough handling of Ko's case, fatigue on interrogation, and the continuous release of unfavorable news about Ko through the pan-Green media clearly revealed that there was an invisible political hand behind it.  Compared with DPP's cases, no wonder DPP and Ko's supporters believe that this is just a political persecution.

 corrupt-Taiwan
　

★  Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Taiwan , 2024-4-22  state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/taiwan/  :   the mayor of Hsinchu was indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for suspected embezzlement .   During the year, 19 high-ranking officials, 41 mid-level, 114 low-level, and nine elected officials were indicted for corruption.

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★  Washington Post, 2024-5-20:  The ruling party (DPP)  has faced corruption scandals.   msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-swears-in-new-president-stands-up-to-chinese-aggression/ar-BB1mFMmO?ocid=BingNewsSearch    Michelle Lee, Vic Chiang

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★  Washington Post, 2023-11-24:  A win is not guaranteed. Public grievances against the ruling party have bubbled up during Tsai's presidency, which has been hit by corruption scandals and grumbling from Taiwanese businesses about lost trade with China  Christian Shepherd    washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/24/taiwan-presidential-election-2024-china/ 

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★ New York Times, 2024-1-10: the frustration voters feel about out-of-control Taiwan housing prices and government corruption.

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★ Taiwan detains former vice premier from ruling party in corruption probe
Bloomberg, 2024-7-12  A court ordered Cheng Wen-tsan detained while he is investigated for corruption, the latest development in the highest-profile graft probe in the democratically run archipelago since President Chen Shui-bian in 2008.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-detains-former-vice-premier-011805411.html
Independent, 2024-7-12 The ruling party pledged to combat corruption when Lai Ching-te became its leader in 2023 and won the presidency in the January election.  Mr Cheng was seen as a potential presidential contender, and is known for his moderate stance on Taiwan’s relations with mainland China and advocacy for normal exchanges.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-detains-former-vice-premier-103340005.html
Radio Taiwan International, 2024-7-12 Prosecutors are accusing Cheng of accepting bribes, leaking information, and laundering money, among several other crimes.  Cheng has strong political and business connections, and concerns were raised about potential collusion...
TaiwanPlus, 2024-7-12 Taiwan's former Vice Premier is behind bars after prosecutors persuaded a court that he could use his connections to interfere in his investigation into alleged bribery
United Daily, 2024-7-12 Cheng took bribes 7 years ago, for the past years, they can always grasp the situation of the secret investigation.   How does the state machine protect him ?
udn.com/news/story/11091/8090251?from=udn_ch2cate6643sub11091_pulldownmenu_v2
Taiwan's corruption is a serious issue -  United Daily (2024-7-13 udn.com/news/story/7338/8092107?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2): They said Lai Ching-te is making an example to warn many others in former president Tsai Ing-wen's faction, some politicians should be trying to show their loyalty to protect themselves.  United Daily (2024-7-10): The other factions and the opposition should get very jumpy or anxiety about something that is going to happen.


★ The Guardian, 2024-1-7: Taiwan bracesfor "big deal" presidential election as China's shadow looms - Corruption and the cost of living have trumped concerns about a belliger neighbour in close race for the presidency...There are also Care for children and the elderly, corruption, judicial reform, education and rights for minorities are also immediate concerns...Corruption is another major issue for most Taiwanese voters. political corruption is often the “most stressed issue in Taiwanese elections and has been the most influential issue in a number of local and national elections”.  According to the Taiwan Anti-Corruption and Whistleblower Protection Association, 11.6% of 1,677 city councillor candidates in 2022 had criminal records.

 ★★
 ★ VOA News, 2024-1-3: Beijing has noticed that Taiwan’s 2024 election campaign has focused on corruption scandals rather than cross-strait relations. 
  ★★
 ★ SCMP, 2024-1-5: The DPP has suffered corruption scandals.

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★ Denmark's Democracy Perception Index 2023: Most people view corruption as a threat to democracy in their country -  Taiwan ranks world 17,  behind Singapore (No.7), Japan (9), Australia (10), Hong Kong (12), S Korea (13).   6389062.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6389062/Canva%20images/Democracy%20Perception%20Index%202023.pdf

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★ Sky News Australia, 2023-12-31: the DPP has experienced several political scandals including corruption, alleged crime links, plagiarism, and separate physical harassment and sexual harassment controversies involving female members.
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 ★  VOA News, 2023-11-24:   a 34-year-old banker, told VOA by phone. “I will vote for the third-party candidate Ko Wen-je, because I think he can help address the issue of corruption that has long plagued Taiwan's politics.”。 voanews.com/a/taiwan-presidential-election-heats-up-after-opposition-parties-announce-vp-candidates/7369189.html William Yang 
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★  Australia InsideStory.org.au, 2023-11-24: opposition parties have found plenty of other targets for attack: the government's handling of Covid; corruption on the part of legislators;...... popular sentiment favours a change of government. If Taiwan had a two-party preferred system of voting, Lai would be staring at defeat. insidestory.org.au/taiwans-cat-warrior-to-the-rescue/
　

　

                   

　

     

pic. :  No.1 "Taiwanese corruption" on Yandex of Russia , 2024-9-7, 2024-7-14, 2024-5-17, 2024-3-11, 2023-12-24, 2023-11-26, 2023-4-2;  The sites group was ranked No.2 "Taiwanese corruption" on Yandex of Russia , 2022-7-17, top 3 on 2021-8-9, 2021-5-9; No.2 "Taiwan's corruption" at 2022-1-30 

　

  pic.: The sites group was ranked No.1   "Taiwan corruption " on Yandex of Russia , 2024-9-7, 2024-7-14, 2024-5-17, 2024-3-11, 2023-12-24, 2023-11-26, 2023-4-2, 2022-5-31, 2022-3-25; No.2 "Taiwan corruption" on Yandex, 2022-7-17, 10-25-2019


　

　

 pic.:  No.1 "Taiwan corruption " on Bing , 2024-7-14,  No.1 by "corruption in Taiwan" on US Bing , 2024-7-14, 7-26-2019, 11-28-2018 , No.2 at 3-12-2020;  No.2  "Taiwan corruption " on Bing , 2023-2-21, 2021-5-9;top "corruption in Taiwan" on Bing at 2022-10-9, 2022-5-31

　

pic.: The sites group was ranked No.1  by "corruption in Taiwan" on Yandex of Russia , 2024-9-7, 2024-7-14, 2024-5-17, 2024-3-11, 2023-12-24, 2023-4-2,  2022-7-17, 2022-3-25, 3-12-2020, No.2 at  9-13-2020, 1-11-2020; No.3 at 2024-1-8

　

　

pic. :  No.1   "Taiwan corruption " on Microsoft Bing , 2024-7-13, 2024-5-17, 2024-3-11, 2024-1-8, 2023-12-24 (Chinese version) ; No2 at 2024-9-7

　

　

 　

　

★  China Times (中時), 2024-7-28: Taiwan's judiciary - double standard  chinatimes.com/opinion/20240728002901-262101?chdtv

　

★ Liberty Times (自由時報), 2024-7-29:  Looking forward to a crackdown on corruption (期待大肅貪時代來了 /  前總統蔡英文八年司法改革的進度與績效未有重大進展)。  talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/165888

　

★ TaiwanPlus, 2023-3-6  msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/taiwan-poll-finds-widespread-public-mistrust-of-prosecutors-taiwanplus-news/vi-AA18glWE
★ China Times (中時), 2023-6-26  editorial
　		 The ruling DPP's corruption - structural, collective and overall (結構性、集體性、全面性貪腐) ;  a bunch of vote-brokers, officials, law makers get involved; DPP's corruption has already crossed the bottom line, and being out of control.  chinatimes.com/opinion/20230626004425-262101?chdtv   brief
★ China Times (中時),
2023-3-16 briefchinatimes.com/opinion/20230316005423-262101?chdtv		 DPP government forcefully roll out "Green Energy" ，huge profits and complicated review process give politicians room to practise fraud, they are called "green roaches" for so many malfeasances in recent years, It's a big black hole !!

　

★   In Transparency Org., 2023 Corruption Perception Index, Taiwan ranks world No.28, Asia's No.9

Transparency Org., 2023 Corruption Perception Index
world rank Asia rank country score
3 1 NZ 85 down
5 2 Singapore 83
14 3 Australia 75
14 3 Hong Kong 75 down
16 5 Japan 73
24 6 USA 69
26 7 Bhutan 68
26 7 UAE 68
28 9 Taiwan 67 down
32 10 S Korea 63
33 11 Israel 62
transparency.org/en/cpi/2023

　

★  United Daily  (聯合報), 2024-5-17: All kinds of corruption scandals buried the image of Taiwan government。

　

★   US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2023-3-20 (state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/taiwan/):

♦  In 2020 presidential and legislative elections, there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties.
♦  In the year to May, 21 high-ranking officials, 38 mid-level, 83 low-level, and 18 elected officials were indicted for corruption.

　

　

　

    

pic. : No.1 "台灣貪腐"(corruption in Taiwan) on Yandex of Russia 第1 , 2024-7-13, 2024-3-11, 2023-12-24, 2023-11-26;  No.1 Taiwan corruption ("台灣貪污") on Yandex of Russia  , 2024-3-11, 2023-12-24, 2023-11-26 (Chinese version);  No.2 at 2024-3-11

　

　

　

★  United Daily  (聯合報), 2023-12-24:  In 2024 presidential election, the biggest Achilles' heel of the ruling party is corruption and "black-gold" (黑金) ; When Chen Shui-bian took the office, Lai Ching-te (current vice president and presidential candidate) and Chen Chu already were on the side of corruption.  Once Lai win the key election, the political group「新清流」will behave from bad to worse.  The vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim frankly said, indeed some of our comrades forgot their original intention and need to do self-reflection and self-criticism. udn.com/news/story/7338/7661572?from=udn_ch2_menu_v2_main_cate

　

★  United Daily (聯合報), 2023-12-3:  Taiwanese are most intolerant of the ruling party's corruption . Presidential candidate Ko W.Z. (柯文哲) has frequently criticized the DPP for being corrupt from chicken eggs, photovoltaics, face-masks, virus vaccines, slag to CovID rapid screening... almost everything. udn.com/news/story/123307/7614550?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub123307_pulldownmenu_v2

　

★ China Times (中國時報) , editorial,  2023-8-13: Taiwan DPP government uses anti-nuclear to cover its corruption(表面上看似為非核努力，而現實上卻是利益糾結、坐地分贓，中央與地方派系肉桶分肥的一群大肥貓，打著綠能的旗幟，卻反過來把台灣生態破壞殆盡)   chinatimes.com/opinion/20230813003077-262101?chdtv

　

★ China Times,  2023-10-12: A girl college student questioned vice president Lai Ching-te how to solve the rotten issue，Lai did not answer directly,  ... later days, that girl experienced internet bully, her account and her family members' account were open ...   chinatimes.com/opinion/20231012005273-262101?chdtv

　

★ United Daily (聯合報) , editorial,  2023-11-22: An Alliance of Taiwan’s Opposition Parties Collapsed will help DPP's corruption and abuses oif power.(助長綠營威權貪腐)   udn.com/news/story/7338/7590070?from=udn_ch2_menu_v2_main_cate

★ China Times , editorial, 2023-11-18:  The Tsai government's exploiting loopholes of the constitutional system and weakening the legislative and supervisory powers result in an autocratic system, a beast of power (the president and the executive) leading to all kinds of corruption and misdeeds  (政府完全執政後，大鑽憲政體制漏洞，弱化制衡行政權的立法與監察權；強人意識帶來的專制運作，讓總統與行政機關成為只要我想要、沒有不可以的權力野獸，各式貪汙腐化的敗行劣跡也因運而生)。chinatimes.com/opinion/20231118003223-262101?chdtv  
 ★ China Times , editorial,  2023-11-22: Due to corruption and abuses of power ... about 60% of the public expect a new government  chinatimes.com/opinion/20231122005489-262101?chdtv

　

★ United Daily, editorial , 2023-5-24: Taiwan's law maker accepted offering from fraud-crime group!! law maker 陳歐珀's families are parasites of fraud group im.B; besides, deputy premier 鄭文燦、mayor 黃偉哲、former Secretary General of Presidential Office 蘇嘉全 all were entertained by graud-crime group.  However, the chair of the ruling party Lai (賴清德) still keep silent about this scandal, where is his honesty and uprightness he always praise oneself？ udn.com/news/story/7338/7185989?from=udn_ch2_menu_v2_main_cate

　

★  United Daily , editorial , 2023-5-24 : KMT law maker pointed out officer(s) of Taiwan's FBI (investigation gov. 調查局) invested NT$ 13 million on im.B fraud platform, a "star" level prosecutor was also entertained by fraud group.  udn.com/news/story/123523/7188786?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub123523_pulldownmenu_v2

　

★  China Times ( 中時),  2023-5-26: The ruling party's power goes over the law - high-ranking officials like premier (蘇貞昌) and minister of transportation (王國材) both said the same phrase "No need to do investigation" (「不必查」) as long as those involved are "our men".  chinatimes.com/opinion/20230526004293-262101?chdtv

　

★ China Times, editorial , 2023-4-10: an anti-corruption union is what Taiwan needs, KMT earns public trust on anti-corruption issue?  ...The vaccine procurement case involving huge profits is full of doubts, but the prosecutors and investigation gov. don't even touch it !  chinatimes.com/opinion/20230410004586-262101?chdtv

　

★ Transparency International, Taiwan ranks No. 7 in Asia & Pacific in 2022 

Transparency Int'l   ,  CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX, 2021
country of Asia & Pacific score
New Zealand score 87  No.2
Singapore score 83  No.5
Hong Kong No. 12
Australia No. 13
Japan No. 18
Bhutan No. 25
Taiwan score 68 No. 25
transparency.org/en/cpi/2021

　

★ Voice of America, 2022-11-23:  "black gold"-"heijin." Corruption in Local Politics /  The term directly translates to "black gold" but most in the audience understand that it refers to corruption, vote buying, or illicit money used for political purposes... vote buying, and even candidates with ties to organized crime have been hard to erase completely in more rural areas...  in Nantou, because it is relatively rural, buying votes is actually very serious, I would say prevalent   voanews.com/a/taiwan-struggles-to-shake-off-era-of-corruption-in-local-politics/6846530.html   brief 

　

★ China Times (中國時報) ,  2023-4-30 editorial:  DPP, the ruling party's personality is born to be connected with corruption (幫派性格卻注定無法與貪腐切割)。In the past 7 years in office, Tsai Ing-wen has connived her subordinates and left them to themselves；Tsai government's state of being rotten was already worse than that in Chen Shui-bian's government.  chinatimes.com/opinion/20230429003037-262101?chdtv

　

★ China Times (中國時報) , 2023-4-19:  In today's Taiwan, president, premier, lots of ministers ... which one is not rotten? corrupted? scandalous ?... (自總統以下，行政院長、多數部會首長，哪一個不是貪汙腐化、醜聞一堆、朽木為官、禽獸食祿？ )  chinatimes.com/opinion/20230419004342-262104?chdtv 楊志良

　

★  China Times,  2023-10-12: A girl college student questioned vice president Lai Ching-te how to solve the rotten issue，Lai did not answer directly,  ... later days, that girl experienced internet bully, her account and her family members' account were open ...   chinatimes.com/opinion/20231012005273-262101?chdtv

　

★ Economist, 2022-8-2: Taiwan needs to do more to combat corruption and waste in its armed forces economist.com/leaders/2022/08/02/nancy-pelosis-trip-to-taiwan-highlights-americas-incoherent-strategy

　

★ Axios, 2022-6-28: Scandals and corruption have plagued the Taiwanese armed forces  axios.com/2022/06/28/taiwan-military-defense-weapons-china-invasion-threat

　

★ United Daily (Taiwan), 2022-12-24: various surveys show that the No.1 public-grievance about the admin. is corruption and "black gold" (現階段台灣民眾最不滿意的施政項目是貪腐與黑金)。 by member of Membership Accreditation Committee, Transparency International  udn.com/news/story/7339/6861292?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2

★ United Daily (Taiwan), 2022-12-11: In midterm election, corruption and vote buying used by pan-Green is as serious as those in pan-Blue camp, but the prosecutors and investigaton units on the side of the ruling party (pan-Green)...   (「綠營絕對沒有買得比較少，也不是技術比較高超，而是檢調系統已向綠營無限靠攏！」)  udn.com/news/story/123137/6830163?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub123137_pulldownmenu_v2   (反滲透法查賄 學者：不能無限上綱)    udn.com/news/story/123137/6830165?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub123137_pulldownmenu_v2

　

★ Transparency International, Germany /  Global Corruption Barometer, released in 2022 -
comparisons among main Asian countries

country

 people who think
 government
 corruption
 is a big problem		 public service
users
 paid a bribe
in the previous
 12 months		 public
clinic,
health
centres		 utilities police gov.
officials		 local
gov.
officials		 judges,
magis-
trates		 corruption
level
increased
in previous
12months
Taiwan 90% 17% 9% 28% 67% 19% 20% 15% 38%
Japan 84 2 2 4 10 7 26 6 36
Malaysia 71 13 5 11 30 28 16 12 20
China 62 28 26 17 16 18 18 13 39
S Korea 55 10 6 14 8 26 42 24 17
transparency.org/en/countries/taiwan

　

★  Global Times, 2022-9-28, 2022-9-25

In 2022, the overall "diplomatic budget" of Taiwan reached $936 million, which includes $41 million "classified budget" to bribe and support anti-China forces and their activities overseas.   globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1276026.shtml

...profits to US politicians via covert means like buying over their family, NGOs  /    under the pretense of universities and research institutions, whose "white gloves" have given legitimacy to high-profile receptions -  first-class flights, luxury hotels, leisure and entertainment, and paying exorbitant "commission fees." ... civil groups(e.g., TSMC, China Steel Corporation, I-MEI Foods Co Ltd and CHIMEI ) extent invitations to US politicians but the DPP authorities eventually pay them using public assets , to escape US congressional constraints... globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1276326.shtml    

　

★ US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released at 2022-4-12 (state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/taiwan/):

nIn 2020 presidential and legislative elections, President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election,...there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties.
n13 high-ranking officials, 79 mid-level, 93 low-level, and 18 elected officials were indicted for corruption.
nthe Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Yuan referred six officials to the Control Yuan for criminal investigation, including former minister of justice Tseng Yung-fu, former prosecutor general Wu Ying-chao, and two others for investigation of noncriminal misconduct, including Supreme Administrative Court judge..., the Judicial Yuan referred six former judges to the Control Yuan for investigation of noncriminal misconduct.  the Ministry of Justice investigated 77 other incumbent and former judicial and law enforcement officials implicated in similar behavior with the same businessperson.
na senior investigator of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau was indicted for corruption for allegedly profiting from the sale of narcotics worth more than 168 million New Taiwan dollars ($5.6 million) seized in law enforcement investigations over eight years.
nthe mayor and the council speaker of Pingtung City were convicted of corruption and sentenced to seven and four years in prison, respectively, for colluding with a private contractor to misappropriate 2.4 million New Taiwan dollars ($80,000) in public funds over three years.

　

★  al jazeera, 2022-5-30: Taiwan legislature erupts in violence over "secret expenses" bill /  KMT lawmakers try to block bill they say could be used to overturn ex-President Chen Shui-bian’s corruption conviction.  Lawmakers armed with signs and loudspeakers, pushed and shoved each other and threw water and paper (fake money) to prevent a third reading of the bill.  Chen was found guilty of misusing funds by fake receipts etc.   brief from aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/30/brawl-breaks-out-in-taiwan-legislature   United Daily, Taiwan, 2022-5-31: A formal member of Special Investigation Division says if losing the last line of defense, there would be no law to punish president's connecting public monies with a private or personal burse...  udn.com/news/story/122808/6352386?from=udn_ch2cate6638sub122808_pulldownmenu_v2

　

★ United Daily, editorial , 2022-7-17: The DPP decriminalizes the case of president's secret expense (國務機要費案) so that current president and next presidents won't get any legal trouble any more in the future.  It's a shame that the government covers the corruption, the legislative and the judicial system both give service to it. (政府行政護貪、立法為惡、司法助虐)   udn.com/news/story/7338/6466748?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2

　

★ China Times, editorial , 2022-7-17:  Some political party with admin. or executive power is happy to take bribes from interest groups and work for them... officials with administrative power can earn profits from bribery or political contributions/donations (掌握行政大權的官員同樣可上下其手，直接受賄或是在政治捐獻中獲取利益)   chinatimes.com/opinion/20220716002628-262101?chdtv

　

★ China Times, editorial , 2022-6-1,  "The whole DPP party backups corruption, a shame of Taiwan's democracy": When the corruption scandal broke out in 2008, all DPP members gave ex-President Chen Shui-bian a cold shoulder, Chen's daughter 陳幸妤 was mad and shouted："Has anyone in DPP not taken money from my father ?? ", which shocked all fields, therefore, pan-Green Coalition has been involved in Chen's case.(綠營因此遭扁綁架事出有因)。  chinatimes.com/opinion/20220531004670-262101?chdtv

　

★ China Times, editorial ,  2022-10-29: A rotten "with no limit" government's CovID-19 epidemic prevention policy.  (防疫政策無底限的貪腐)   chinatimes.com/opinion/20221029003036-262101?chdtv

　

★  US  Country Reports on Human Rights Practices , 2021-3-30

        state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/taiwan/   Significant human rights issues included: the existence of criminal libel laws and serious acts of corruption.  Authorities prosecuted officials including incumbent and former legislators involved in a high-profile bribery case.

★

Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process:  there were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties (KMT and DPP) in Presidential election.

Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government:  There were reports of official corruption during the year. In the year to May, nine high-ranking officials, 59 mid-level, 75 low-level, and 18 elected people’s deputies had been indicted for corruption.  In September the Taipei District Prosecutors Office charged incumbent legislators Su Chen-ching of the Democratic Progressive Party, Liao Kuo-tung and Chen Chao-ming of the Kuomintang, and former New Power Party legislator Hsu Yung-ming with accepting bribes to assist a businessman in regaining control of the ownership of a department store chain. In addition independent legislator Chao Cheng-yu was indicted in a separate bribery case involving two funeral services companies and a plot of land in a national park. These cases were pending trial.

　

USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices,  2021-3-30:  There were allegations of vote buying by candidates and supporters of both major political parties (KMT and DPP) in  Presidential election in 2020. 

N.Y. Times, 12-1-2019: the soft underbelly of Taiwanese politics: patronage networks. 
They continue to allow
community leaders, farmers’ associations and even
 organized-crime figures to buy votes
 ( NY Times, opinion : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/opinion/china-taiwan-election.html ).

vote buying in Taiwan

　

★ Transparency International, Taiwan ranks No. 8 in Asia & Pacific in 2021

Transparency Int'l   ,  CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX, 2021
country of Asia & Pacific score
New Zealand score 88  No.1
Singapore   No.4
Hong Kong No. 12
Australia No. 18
Japan No. 18
UAE No. 24
Bhutan No. 25
Taiwan score 68 No. 25
transparency.org/en/cpi/2021

　

★ International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2021 Global State of Democracy

(idea.int/gsod/sites/default/files/2021-11/spotlight-on-taiwan-gsod2021.pdf)
SPOTLIGHT ON TAIWAN
corruption cases, some of them highprofile, have continued to emerge, one of the most serious being that of five MPs from three political parties, the DPP and KMT included, charged with accepting bribes from the ex-Chairman of a major investment firm in violation of the 2007 Anti-Corruption Act—a case viewed by some as highlighting Taiwan’s weak record on regulating political lobbying.

　

★ United Daily, editorial, 2022-1-30: DBS buying Citi (credit card business) reflects the embarrassing facts of Taiwan ... How the government's reform policy has become a tool of politicians' corruption  (星展買下花旗消金，映出台灣難堪事實... 政府改革政策如何淪為政客貪瀆工具)  udn.com/news/story/7338/6070463?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2

　

★ According to Global Corruption Barometer, Transparency (https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/taiwan  test at 1-27-2021), 90% of people think government corruption is a big problem, 17% of public service users paid a bribe on the previous 12 months. Taiwan scored 65 points out of 100, rank 28th on the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International in 2020.   According to USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices, there were reports of official corruption during the year.  Ranking officials, 72 mid-level, 115 low-level, and 11 elected people’s deputies had been indicted for corruption.

　

★ United Daily, editorial, 2021-9-17: The DPP (ruling party) continues their downward trend  - becoming more and more mouthpiece and dividing the spoils / share the booty (民進黨愈來愈一言堂化及分贓化的趨勢)  udn.com/news/story/7338/5752268?from=udn-catebreaknews_ch2

★

★Taiwan's corruption scandal - reported by all Taiwanese media in 2021

Taiwan's biggest rotten case in legal system

 pic.: Taiwan's biggest rotten case in legal system  ― "Formosa TV news, 1-19-2021: Taiwan's biggest judiciary scandal of the century" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziv67-PbtHo ), 
"Apple Daily, 1-19-2021: rotten & stinky judiciary shakes Taiwan to the core" , "China Times, 1-19-2021: Taiwan judiciary crashes" etc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziv67-PbtHo

★★

★ Transparency International,