Taiwanese artist Jia Yongjie, who recently became the Chairperson of Taipei 101 in early September, received threatening emails recently, with the police initially suspecting the involvement of foreign individuals. Jia Yongjie took to Facebook today (17th) to express that she will not tolerate the actions of wrongdoers and firmly believes that justice will prevail.
Taipei 101 is an iconic building in Taiwan, with former Chairperson Zhang Xueshun stepping down and being succeeded by artist Jia Yongjie. On August 22, she posted a joyful selfie in front of Taipei 101 on Facebook, writing, “Prepared for the second half of my life, embracing new challenges.” Jia Yongjie officially assumed the position of Chairperson of Taipei 101 on September 3, stating, “My adventure with 101 has officially begun! I hope to be brave in shouldering responsibilities and embracing creativity!”
Prime Minister of the Republic of China, Zhuo Rongtai, recently explained the reason for recruiting Jia Yongjie on the TV program “New Taiwan, Go For It,” mentioning her cultural background, deep social concern, and some narratives on democratic ideals. He hopes that she can establish international connections through this and further enhance Taipei 101’s international presence, making it truly the most prominent landmark in Taiwan with a particularly significant spiritual essence. Zhuo Rongtai also reported to President Lai Ching-te, stating, “The President is very appreciative.”
One week after taking office, Jia Yongjie shared on social media, “In fact, the workload is really immense, just the handover alone involves many tasks. For me, every day requires intense and thoughtful consideration and learning, truly a challenging task! Before, signing was carefree, but now it carries great responsibility! In short, I am responsible for beauty and fashion, responsible for making 101 more beautiful and stylish, and in the future, I will also be responsible for fun, interesting, and indulging in good food and drinks. This position is not easy for me, but I am brave and serious! I hope to be brave in shouldering responsibilities and embracing creativity.”
Just 10 days into her tenure, Jia Yongjie received threatening emails. Today, she posted on Facebook, stating, “Yes, I have been threatened. Last Friday (the 13th), I received a threat letter at 5 pm. The culprit threatened my life in every word and sentence. We immediately reported to the police and dealt with it calmly and discreetly.”
Facing various criticisms after taking office, she mentioned, “Some people say I am just a vase relying on my looks, some say I have no education, so why should I be the Chairperson. I humbly accept these criticisms. But I will not tolerate the actions of wrongdoers.” She believes in Taiwan as a country under the rule of law, where justice will prevail and wrongdoers will be brought to justice.
Currently, the case is being handled jointly by the Xinyi Police Station of the Taipei City Police Department and the Criminal Investigation Police Brigade, with efforts to enhance related security maintenance work. The police’s preliminary assessment suggests that the act may be related to foreign individuals.