TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee voted Thursday to condemn the Control Yuan after the oversight body declined to attend a committee meeting concerning a potential conflict-of-interest case involving Su Chiao-chun (蘇巧純), the daughter of former Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).
The TPP previously accused the National Development Council of investing NT$19.9 million (US$620,000) in Quants AI without the required conflict-of-interest disclosure while Su Chiao-chun was on the company's board and Su Tseng-chang was premier, per CMedia.
National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) had previously rejected the accusation, saying investment decisions are made by committees and do not fall under actions requiring recusal under the existing conflict-of-interest law, per Tai Sounds.
During Thursday's committee meeting, TPP Legislator Chen Chao-tzu (陳昭姿) criticized the Control Yuan for failing to submit a report or send representatives to the hearing, per UDN. She said further review was needed to determine whether Quants AI received what she described as "subsidies" during Su Tseng-chang's premiership and whether Su Chiao-chun complied with existing conflict-of-interest regulations.
Chen also questioned whether Awespire complied with conflict-of-interest rules when it received funding from the culture ministry and the economic affairs ministry while operating akaSwap, a platform whose CEO was Su Chiao-chun, per Liberty Times. The economic affairs ministry previously said disclosure was not required because Su Chiao-chun was not part of Awespire's management, per Liberty Times.
During the meeting, DPP Legislator Ngalim Tiunn (張雅琳) defended the National Development Council, emphasizing that the council made an investment in Quants AI rather than providing a subsidy, per Liberty Times. Citing previous explanations from the National Development Council and the economic ministry, Tiunn urged the TPP to stop pursuing the issue, accusing the party of using the legislature as a venue for political attacks.
The Control Yuan responded that it is not required to attend legislative meetings except when matters concern its administrative duties, Control Yuan-proposed legislation, or its budget, per CNA. It said its decision not to attend was consistent with constitutional provisions.
The Control Yuan also said it cannot disclose details of ongoing investigations and warned that the committee's condemnation violated the separation of powers and the institution's independence.
