程建人

In Chen Chien-jen upbeat on his posting to the EU, Melody Chen writes,

After announcing the cancelation of former foreign minister Eugene Chien's (簡又新) appointment as representative to the EU, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) confirmed late on Wednesday night that Chen Chien-jen would fill the vacancy...

Asked whether the canceling of Chien's appointment was a result of the UK representative office's blunder in issuing a passport and legal documents to Yeh Hsiu-chen (葉秀貞), wife of fugitive murder suspect Andrew Wang (汪傳浦), Mark Chen said: "I don't know. I cannot say."

Mark Chen's comments seemed to contradict his position on Wednesday, in which he strongly hinted that there was a link.

The foreign minister apparently did not indicate to Chien that his appointment had been canceled prior to his announcement at the press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Learning the information from reporters, Chien phoned Mark Chen after the press conference but the minister was said to have missed the call.

It sounds like he's being hung out to dry. And none too soon. Earlier a Taipei Times Editorial wrote,

When Taiwan's representative office in Britain issued a new passport and documents authorizing real estate transfers to Yeh Hsiu-chen (葉秀貞), the wife of Andrew Wang (汪傳浦), who is wanted for his involvement in the Lafayette scandal, it caused a political storm.

The entire country is now wondering how such a mistake could occur, not once, but twice.

Pan-blue legislators have raised tough questions that suggested the scandal was not just a mistake, and the Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) legislative caucus has reported the issue to the Control Yuan, asking it to investigate the officials handling the matter: Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), Taiwan's representative to Britain, and former foreign minister Eugene Chien (簡又新).

...before becoming foreign minister, Chien had to resign from his post as transportation and communications minister in connection with corruption surrounding highway construction projects. However, coming from a respected Taoyuan family adept at manipulating private relationships with high-level leaders, Chien was still trusted and given important posts by two consecutive presidents, even after his resignation. He advanced quickly in rank....

That's pretty negative. Let's see if the DPP resurrects him again. I hope not, but if they did, it wouldn't be the first time. As to Chen Chien-jen, the Taipei Times elsewhere admits that both Taiwan's new de-facto ambassador to the US, David Lee (李大維) and Chen are "stalwart Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member[s]" and conceded that David Lee "was chosen because of his wide-ranging diplomatic experience and expertise". Well, I hope these two aren't corrupt. Certain DPP elements despise the KMT so much, they won't trust anyone from there...except Lee Teng-hui.