Taiwan Minister Denies Misuse of Funds Amid Opposition's 'Entertainment Trip' Claims

Taiwan's Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), Hsu Chih-chien, is facing accusations from the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) of misusing public funds for personal travel and entertainment. The TPP alleges that Hsu undertook 47 overseas trips during her tenure, costing approximately NT$23.83 million, and controversially classified activities such as attending movies and eating desserts as confidential.

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The accusation that I called the travel report confidential is a misrepresentation. I only emphasized that because some itineraries involve personal data of overseas compatriots, online announcements need to be redacted.

Responding to the claims, Hsu Chih-chien stated that the accusation of classifying trip reports as confidential is a misrepresentation. She explained that certain details within the reports, particularly those involving personal information of overseas compatriots, require redaction before public online release. Hsu emphasized that the OCAC's primary mission is to serve Taiwanese expatriates, schools, and businesses abroad, and that engaging with these communities through travel is a core part of her duties.

Hsu further clarified that the OCAC's travel budget categorizes trips as "inspections," "visits," or "meetings," with no specific "fact-finding" category as implied by the opposition. She highlighted that visits to businesses, such as tomato or sheep farms, are part of understanding and supporting overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Additionally, her trips often combine multiple objectives, including assisting businesses, supporting Chinese language education centers, participating in cultural events like "Taiwan Day" at MLB or NBA games, and attending conferences.

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The purpose of the OCAC is to serve overseas Taiwanese compatriots, schools, and businesses. Direct exchanges with expatriates and overseas groups are part of my duties.

The minister also pointed out that the frequent travel to the United States is due to the large Taiwanese diaspora there and the growing cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. She noted that promoting Taiwanese culture and the establishment of Taiwanese Mandarin Learning Centers (TCML) are key initiatives. Hsu also referenced a previous legislative inquiry by KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin regarding her travel expenses, suggesting the current accusations are repetitive and politically motivated.

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Please ask the TPP legislators to understand more about the OCAC's work content and service targets, as well as the regulations regarding budget allocation, execution, and travel reports before making accusations.