《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》DPP claims KMT smear tactic

INCONSISTENCY: The DPP said that the KMT’s numbers did not add up, highlighting discrepancies in price calculations and presenting evidence rejecting the allegations

By Jake Chung / Staff writer

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The Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） yesterday said that allegations of land speculation by DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） made by Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） legislators over the past few days were abhorrent election smear tactics, calling on KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu （朱立倫） to live up to his promise of a clean campaign.

DPP spokesperson Wang Min-sheng （王閔生） yesterday said at a news conference that the information provided by the KMT on the size, price, buyer and which plot of land was sold were all erroneous, demonstrating that all allegations are false.

“It is clear the KMT is fabricating information like charlatans,” Wang said, calling on Chu to keep his campaign staff in line and to cease a smear campaign comprised of baseless accusations.

“Chairperson Tsai’s only role in the purchase of the land in question is quite clear — an equal partner in a joint venture involving six people,” Wang said, adding that Tsai’s participation in the deal was in full compliance with a 1985 Taipei City Government announcement regarding the rezoning of plots in the area.

There was no insider trading, land speculation or profiteering, he added.

Wang was responding to allegations by KMT Legislator Alex Tsai （蔡正元） and former legislator Chiu Yi （邱毅）, which were made after the DPP questioned KMT vice presidential candidate Jennifer Wang’s （王如玄） real-estate investments involving military housing units.

The two said that the same standards should also apply to Tsai Ing-wen, questioning her “precise timing” in the 1988 purchase of 15 plots of land in Neihu, months before Taipei imposed a ban on the purchase, transfer or sale of any property in parts of the rezoned area, and calling for a closer inspection of the matter.

Tsai Ing-wen and a group of five other individuals purchased a plot of land at No. 380, Plot 4 in the Xihu area （西湖） of Taipei’s Neihu District （內湖）, which had a registered area of 170 ping （562m2） after it was rezoned, Wang Min-sheng said, adding that the KMT’s claims increased that figure by 100 ping.

The land was sold on June 6, 1997. In July 1996, market prices were NT$60,000 per square meter, or about NT$198,000 per ping, attorney Hsu Ming-chun （許銘春） said, adding that the KMT’s NT$264,000 per ping estimate was based on July 1997 real-estate prices, about NT$79,308 per square meter.

“It is clear that the KMT is using erroneous numbers for its smear campaign,” Wang Min-sheng said.

Wang Min-sheng also presented the land registration papers for the plot, which indicated that Tsai Ing-wen had sold the property to an individual surnamed Tai （戴）, who later sold it to Chao Teng-hsiung （趙藤雄） of Farglory Land Development （遠雄建設）. The KMT lawmakers alleged that Tsai Ing-wen had sold the property to Chao directly.

The KMT’s accusations are fabrications based on hearsay and distorted truths consciously being used to try to lower the standards of Taiwanese elections, harming Taiwan’s democracy, Wang Min-sheng said, calling on Chu to apologize to the public over the incident.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES