Ko Wen-je should apologize for vaccine dealings, says youth leader

A Taiwanese youth leader has called for former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to apologize for his administration's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding vaccine procurement.

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Ko Wen-je really owes Chen Shih-chung an apology, and he owes the entire Taiwanese public an apology!

Zhang Yumeng, chairman of the Taiwan Youth Generation Association for Common Prosperity, stated that Ko owes an apology to both former Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) commander Chen Shih-chung and the Taiwanese public. Zhang cited Ko's decision in 2021 to allocate a NT$2.8 billion budget for the Taipei City government to purchase 2.5 million vaccine doses from private sources.

At the time, Chen Shih-chung had repeatedly advised against trusting private vaccine brokers, warning of potential scams. Ko and his allies, including then-Taipei Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan, publicly criticized Chen, accusing him of being insincere and hindering vaccine access. Ko even questioned Chen's motives, asking if he also feared Foxconn founder Terry Gou or the Tzu Chi Foundation would be deceived.

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At that time, many international brokers took advantage of the government's urgency to make a fortune during the national crisis. Chen Shih-chung was afraid that the Taipei City Government would be deceived and kindly advised Ko Wen-je against it.

Zhang's demand for an apology comes after the Tzu Chi Foundation was reportedly defrauded of over NT$1 billion (US$30 million) by individuals claiming to have access to BNT vaccine supplies. This incident mirrors warnings Chen had issued about the risks of dealing with private brokers, especially during a critical shortage. Zhang argued that Ko's administration's actions were politically motivated, aimed at benefiting Huang Shan-shan's election campaign, and put public funds at risk.

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How did Ko Wen-je trample on Chen Shih-chung's good intentions for Huang Shan-shan's election? Huang Shan-shan fiercely criticized, 'It's okay to want to make money, but harming lives is unforgivable,' and said Chen Shih-chung would face divine retribution.

Zhang highlighted that the alleged vaccine scammers have since been exposed, with one individual, Chen Yuchuan, being indicted for fraud. He contrasted this with Chen Shih-chung's cautious approach, quoting him as telling an official, "We are the ones most desperate to procure vaccines, but we cannot be reckless. We must seize opportunities but also be meticulous, because we represent the nation and its people."

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Must we seize opportunities but also be meticulous, because we represent the nation and its people.