I agree with MM, organized crime has a strong lock on local government here. They often work through temple organizations and have a Quasi religious aspect to them.
For instance a large part of the flood protection business of concreting rivers around Taiwan must go directly to organized crime linked contractors and their legislators and councillors. The budget for flood control is multi billion USD!
The central government tacitly allows some level of organized crime in exchange for support although Ma has helped to remove quite a few corrupt or openly gangster legislators recently. There are numerous corruption trials underway at this moment.
We cannot blame Ma if ordinary people keep allowing corrupt and incompetent politicians and gangsters to be voted in. He is also getting flak from his own party as then you need to hold reelections.
Taiwan is unusual as having a serious criminal record does not proving you standing for office, something to do with the previous martial law era.
Nope, Taiwan does not compare to any western European democracy that I know of. Vote buying is almost unheard of in Western Europe and mafia like contractors will get prosecuted and shut down. Taiwan is more like the Czech republic or Hungary or Romania or Ukraine, those types of places, although Taiwan civil service would be much more efficient and there is little corruption in day to day transactions.
I agree. I realised this 20 years ago while living in Laos. On the other hand, here, if you step out in front of a scooter rider on a quiet street when he has plenty of time to avoid you, he will. He expects you to. It’s the most efficient use of space. In the UK, the rider would shout, or shake an angry fist, or even drive at you to frighten you. I used to drive a lot in the UK and hated it because other drivers were so aggressive and competitive.
I hear you, but then I read tales of the levels of corruption and influence of big business in US government, which then have terrible global consequences, and I get all ‘meh’ about it. There’s a difference in cultural attitude for sure.
Sanchong man murders a Vietnamese woman running a Beitou eatery; apparently shooting and killing her was his way of dealing with disappointment that she—quite rightly, it turns out—did not think he was a great guy to be with.
I was going to post about this based on an earlier article:
One thing that stood out to me though was this bit:
According to the police, Phan was originally from Vietnam but had acquired Taiwanese citizenship after being married to a Taiwanese man for many years.
So apparently even getting Taiwanese citizenship doesn’t stop the media referring to you as a foreigner…
Police search for suspect after woman shot and killed in Taipei
A woman in her 40s has died after being shot at the rice porridge shop she ran in the Taipei suburb of Beitou on Saturday afternoon (June 10).
Police said the shooting occurred at the eatery on Zhixing Road close to the Guandu MRT station at around 1.45 p.m., and that the victim was a Vietnamese woman who had lived in Taiwan for many years, per CNA. Police said they have identified the suspect via CCTV footage, but are yet to make an arrest, per UDN.
Police were the first to arrive at the scene, after which an ambulance was called and the woman was rushed to a nearby hospital. She was pronounced dead at 2 p.m.
Man who killed Vietnamese shop owner arrested in New Taipei
New Taipei police have arrested the shooter of a congee shop owner in Taipei’s Beitou District early Sunday morning (June 11).
The shooter, a 50-year-old man surnamed Chou (周), was found at a temple in New Taipei’s Linkou District around 2:00 a.m on Sunday, reported UDN. Police were able to clearly identify Chou as the shooter thanks to CCTV footage of him leaving the crime scene on his scooter on Saturday afternoon (June 10).
Comment from me: the store located in crowded intersection in built area around Guandu temple. There several eateries nearby, including Bafang dumpling and 7-11/Family Mart. the store itself not too appetizing. I only ate there once, had a weird feeling of damp and moldy due to lack of light. I know the store owner (a single mother it seems), has a 5-6 yrs old daughter and the daughter really keen to help the mom.
Really sad for her.
The news only mention the mom got murdered, without mention of the daughter.
Taipei police officer arrested in connection to fraud ring. Her boyfriend was a part of a fraud ring that was under investigation. It’s alleged that she even used a police car to drive friends to different locations for dates and one incident which may be related to fraud.
When police searched her home, they seized approximately 1,800 counterfeit NT$50 coins
…
Chang met a male netizen from China through an online dating app, who sent an initial batch of fake NT$50 coins with an estimated dollar value of NT$50,000.
I am not familiar with this case. But I do know that LOTS of fake NT$10 coins circulate. Their look and weight differ. I see them (and receive them) all the time . . .
So at least we never lose any money lol.