Interior Minister Lin Yu-Chang (林右昌) says the government is cracking down on Chinese-based gambling rings which take bets on the upcoming presidential elections. Speaking in the Legislature on Monday, Lin said that these gambling rings are part of a Chinese attempt to influence Taiwan’s elections.
The crackdown is what Lin has called the “second wave”, with the first series of arrests and investigations taking place in late September. He says that 98 people have been charged so far in the crackdowns.
During the September arrests, Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-Chao (邢泰釗) said that election betting, given its large dollar amounts, can be even more effective than traditional vote-buying.
Lin also says that investigations into Chinese attempts to influence local politicians using special trips to China are also ongoing. Taiwanese and foreign media reports have recently reported that hundreds of Taiwan’s village chiefs (里長) have taken special trips to China, with most of the expenses being paid by the Chinese government. For example, Mirror Media reported that 5-day all-inclusive trips for these village chiefs would cost only NT$10,000 (US$316), with airfare being refunded upon arrival. Lin says that 556 people are currently under investigation in relation to these trips.