Source: IHT and local media

The International Herald Tribune posted an Associated Press article under the headline “Heirs of billionaire from Taiwan battle in U.S. over estate” on August 15-16, which reported that Wang Yung-ching, founder of Formosa Plastics Corporation, had been given a state funeral in Taiwan. However, the article misled its readership as Wang Yung-ching had not been given a state funeral in Taiwan.    

According to Article 1 of the State Funeral Act of the Republic of China, a state funeral may be granted to ROC citizens whose achievements or contributions to the country are so great that they elevate the status of the country, glorify our people, or increase the welfare of human beings.

Article 2 of the State Funeral Act stipulates that a state funeral shall be held when a majority of the members of the Executive Yuan (cabinet) meeting vote yes by secret ballot, and shall be promulgated by Presidential decree.      

In fact, the Executive Yuan never convened a meeting for that purpose, nor did such a vote take place. In addition, the President had not promulgated such a decree. Therefore, it was erroneous to report that Wang Yung-ching had been given a state funeral in Taiwan. In fact, no major media ever carried the news of Y.C. Yang’s “state funeral” in Taiwan.

On August 13, a New Jersey court began hearings over the estate case filed by Winston Wang, the eldest son of Wang Yung-ching by his first common-law wife. Winston had requested that the court appoint him as the legitimate executor of his father’s overseas estate.  

In an initial ruling last week, Judge Walter Kaprowski Jr. rejected the request of Susan Wang to dismiss the case. Susan Wang is the eldest of four daughters born to Wang Yung-ching’s second common-law wife.   

The key issue in the case was whether or not the state court in Newark, New Jersey, has jurisdiction over the case. Judge Walter Kaprowski Jr. has asked Winston Wang and Susan Wang to provide more evidence during the next court hearing to prove that Wang had resided and owned assets in New Jersey.

Susan Wang’s attorney issued a statement saying that Susan had concrete evidence to prove that the New Jersey court had no jurisdiction over the case and that Susan would file another request for the court to dismiss the case after the court determined whether or not Wang Yung-ching had assets in the U.S.