Lee Baek-yoon’s Fiery Defense of Chiang Wan-an Exposes KMT Politicians, Professor Says

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is facing a political storm over alleged privilege and questions about whether proper conflict-of-interest procedures were followed in matters involving his eldest son, Chiang Te-li. The controversy intensified after Taipei City Councilor Lee Baek-yoon appeared on a political talk show and defended the mayor in an emotional exchange.

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I think you really lack the ability to reflect on yourself.

Lee insisted that Chiang Te-li had done nothing wrong by applying for an exchange-student program. Other guests criticized Lee during the program, with one telling him, "I think you really lack the ability to reflect on yourself."

Yeh Yao-yuan, a professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas in the United States, said the dispute centered on two questions: conflict of interest and legal compliance. In a Facebook post, Yeh argued that the issue would not have arisen if Chiang’s son had applied for an Education Ministry exchange program with a European country, because Chiang is not the education minister, premier or president.

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I do not know what parallel-universe logic makes it possible to say that when someone shouts, ‘Chiang Te-li had no problem applying for the exchange-student program.’

The application instead involved a Taipei City Department of Education program, while Chiang is the sitting mayor. Yeh questioned how difficult it would be for the department to review the mayor’s son with complete objectivity. He also said Chiang’s son holds U.S. citizenship and therefore could not use an exchange program intended for foreign nationals that requires participants to enter the United States on an exchange-student visa.

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They think blindly defending Chiang Wan-an can save him, but they do not realize that they are only making the problem bigger.

Yeh concluded that neither conflict-of-interest safeguards nor legal compliance appeared to have been satisfied. He questioned the logic behind claims that the application had no problem and said, "They think blindly defending Chiang Wan-an can save him, but they do not realize that they are only making the problem bigger." He added, "Thank you to these defenders for shouting, allowing more people to see the true face of Kuomintang politicians."

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Thank you to these defenders for shouting, allowing more people to see the true face of Kuomintang politicians.