by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
Taipei : Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou was on Tuesday officially charged with breach of trust and economic irregularities while approving sales of assets owned by his party Kuomintang, the Taipei prosecutor’s office said.
The Kuomintang (KMT) party had accumulated huge wealth in the form of cash, securities and real estate during its rule from 1949 to 2000, which according to the opposition were largely illegal appropriations, including favouring members or friends in Ma Ying-jeou’s party.
The prosecutors said they found illegalities in the sale of companies Hua Hsia Investment Holding (2005), China Television (2006) and the building of the former headquarters of the KMT in Taipei, also in 2006, Efe news reported.
The sale of Central Motion Picture and the China Broadcasting Corporation (BCC), both in 2006, were also under scanner.
All these transactions were made when Ma was head of KMT and according to prosecutors, he approved sales at prices below the market value “to get rid of the assets”, which would otherwise have been confiscated.
KMT called the accusations “surprise attack” and the prosecutors “political assassins” that tarnish judicial independence and the justice system.
Ma Ying-jeou, through his spokesperson, said he was “not surprised” by the accusation, although he felt very “angry” about the political use of the judiciary by the current Progressive Democratic Party government.
On May 15, Ma, who was President of Taiwan from 2008 to 2016 and helped ease tensions between Beijing and Taipei, was handed four months in jail for leaking information related to national security. He had filed an appeal against the sentence.
Ma, who was also KMT President from 2009 to 2014, was let off in several graft cases for lack of evidence.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Economy, Markets, News
By Nivedita,
Taipei : Those caught up in the hustle bustle of a city life — and craving for someplace pristine, calm and relaxed — will fall in love with Taiwan. But along with its tranquillity and peace, there is also the effervescence of a place celebrating its culture and language with aplomb.
This small island nation in the South China Sea is truly the heart of Asia – and it is fast catching the attention of Indian travellers, offering as it does a perfect combo of fabulous food, superb night life, bustling markets, hot springs, culture, history, architecture and stunning natural beauty – from gentle mountains to lovely coastal landscapes.
It was around the Taiwan Lantern Festival 2018 that we landed at Taichung International Airport here to be greeted by our tour guide, the friendly and ever-smiling Charles Tung. And he wanted all of us – a group of travelling journalists – smiling as well. “Say cheese,” he said as he got us to pose for a group photo before we embarked on our journey of exploration.
And there is much to explore.
“Taiwan has a truly unique natural beauty. There are beautiful places like Sun Moon lake, Yangmingshan National Park, Black Dwarf Cave… to name just a few. These places provide an escape from the chaos of urban living,” Noel Saxena, Country Head, Taiwan Tourism Bureau India Office, told IANS.
Saxena said Taiwan is also very rich when it comes to art.
“Be it dance, music or even folk art, the Taiwanese have earned critical acclaim with an exceptional display of talent. Taiwanese hand puppetry and Taiwanese opera are two foremost examples of art forms that are authentically Taiwanese, in that they use the Taiwanese language, not Mandarin,” he informed.
The Taiwanese love for music and art was evident at Ten Drum Ciatou Creative Park, located in Kaohsiung. Once a sugar processing plant, it is now the hub of a percussion group — the Ten Drum Percussion Group that has won accolades globally, including a Grammy in the Best World Album category.
While taking a walk around the former factory, we had to take a path made up of the branches of trees… Quite literally, we were walking on trees without fear of falling down — a unique experience.
Other stops included the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, a comprehensive recreational area featuring Taiwanese indigenous people’s cultural relics as well as amusement park facilities; and the Sun Moon Lake, situated near Yuchi township, was truly mesmerising. One of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Taiwan, it is shaped like a crescent moon; hence the name.
The Buddha Memorial Centre at Fo Guang Shan is a landmark in the country. Touching 108 metres in height, the Buddha is made up of 1,872 metric tonnes of copper and iron and is currently the world’s tallest bronze seated Buddha.
“Taiwan is blessed with natural beauty, scenic areas, great food, astonishing history and culture — and Taipei 101. This makes it a great destination. It is a destination for all age groups,” said Saxena.
The country is home to only about 20 million people and is a technology powerhouse. This was quite evident even at the traditional Lantern Festival – held earlier this month — where all the work displayed was high-tech.
(Nivedita was in Taiwan on the invitation of Taiwan Tourism Bureau. She can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in)
—IANS
