An Alarm Over Taiwan’s Corruption Came from US Justice Department

 An Alarm Over Taiwan’s Corruption Came from US Justice Department

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

March 16, 2017

 Translation of an Except

Among the rumbling clamor that has attracted public attention, a “rare” news story was buried in a vast sea of news stories. Former President Chen Shui-bian and his son Chih-chung bought two real estate properties in the US with the bribe money he received from the second financial services reform. The US Justice Department auctioned the two properties after confiscating them, the proceeds being US$ 1.5 million, which was wired back to Taiwan last year. However, the US Justice Department, in a rare move,  requested the ROC Justice Ministry "not to remit the funds to the national coffers," and recommended that the funds be used to establish an "anti-corruption, anti-money laundering" education and training fund in an ad hoc manner.

This news story, besides letting the Chen family's corruption once again be "internationally certified," also slapped in the face those who defended Chen Shui-bian, shouting persecution, including Chen Shi-meng, who had been nominated for the Control Yuan.

However, the more important thing is, the unusual move on the part of the US Justice Department revealed that a dark cloud over corruption gradually reemerged following of change in ruling parties; even the US Justice Department could not but give a specific directive, sending out an alarm.

This alarm is not unfounded; from far to near, the sound has become louder and louder. Our countrymen must heed this alert. Perhaps because of having felt the unusual corruption temperature in Taiwan, the US Justice Department, which had no authority to intervene in the use of retrieved bribe money in Taiwan, has on the other hand requested that the bribe funds be used to set up an anti-corruption fund. We could say that this meant something else. It is virtually reminding Taiwan publicly that the efforts of "anti-corruption" are not enough. Taiwan’s public must bear in mind this alarm.

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