Former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) founder Ko Wen-je has drawn sharp criticism following a public appearance on August 9, where he used profane language while questioning the central government’s management of COVID-19 vaccine procurement. The remarks, which targeted the government’s pandemic response and the involvement of private entities like Tzu Chi, Hon Hai, and TSMC in vaccine acquisition, have been met with a strong rebuke from academia and political commentators.
During the event, Ko referred to the government’s actions using the derogatory term “wang ba dan” (bastard), as reported by Newtalk. This outburst has reignited public debate regarding his administration’s handling of the pandemic and his current legal standing.
Academic Response to Ko’s Remarks
According to Newtalk, Shen characterized Ko as a “despicable politician,” arguing that while government officials were working tirelessly on pandemic prevention, Ko was simultaneously involved in activities that led to his current legal troubles. Shen’s commentary specifically contrasted the efforts of frontline medical and government personnel with Ko’s conduct during his time in office.
Shen further alleged that Ko’s recent remarks were an attempt to “cleanse memories” of his own administration’s performance. To date, the identity of “Ben,” a key figure involved in that incident, remains undisclosed, a point cited by Shen as evidence of a lack of transparency under Ko’s leadership.
Legal Context of Corruption Allegations
The criticism of Ko’s political conduct is set against the backdrop of significant legal developments regarding his time as mayor. On March 26, the Taipei District Court issued a verdict in the corruption cases involving the Core Pacific City (Jinghua City) development project. According to reporting from Newtalk and Line Today, the court found Ko guilty of accepting bribes in violation of the Anti-Corruption Act, sentencing him to 13 years in prison with six years of deprivation of political rights.
Beyond the bribery conviction, the court also found Ko guilty of misappropriating public funds and breach of trust. Specifically, the court issued sentences of two years and three years and six months for the misappropriation of public funds, and two years and six months for the breach of trust charge. These sentences were combined for a total imprisonment term of 17 years, with a concurrent six-year deprivation of political rights. The court proceedings highlighted allegations that Ko had leveraged his office to benefit the Core Pacific Group and its chairman, Shen Ching-ching, during his time in the mayor’s office.
Contrasts in Pandemic Performance
The debate surrounding Ko’s remarks also touches on the broader performance of the Taipei City government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shen Rong-chin noted that while other regions in Taiwan successfully managed mass vaccination campaigns, Taipei City faced significant logistical hurdles and public dissatisfaction. Shen stated that Ko’s administration frequently shifted its stance, criticizing the central government for being too slow to distribute vaccines, only to later claim that the city was unprepared when supplies were provided.
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