Taiwan’s New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office ordered the detention and isolation of Xu Chunying, a Chinese national who was controversially included in the Taiwan People’s Party’s list of at-large legislative candidates but not ultimately nominated. Xu is suspected of receiving funding from the Chinese authorities to meddle in Taiwan’s elections, violating the Anti-Infiltration Act, Banking Act, and engaging in fraud under the Criminal Code. The New Taipei District Court ruled today (November 27) to detain her.
The Taiwan New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office announced today that they are investigating Xu Chunying for alleged violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act. Prosecutors Huang Jiayan and Lin Jiahui from the Anti-Corruption and Illegal Financing Task Force commanded the investigation conducted by the Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice’s Taichung City Investigation Office. On November 26, they executed a search warrant issued by the New Taipei District Court to search 11 locations including Xu Chunying’s residence and brought back Xu Chunying and seven other defendants, as well as 12 related witnesses, to clarify the situation.
After questioning Xu Chunying and others, prosecutors determined that Xu Chunying is suspected of violating the Banking Act, Criminal Code regarding the “falsification of documents in business transactions,” fraud, and breaching the Anti-Infiltration Act. Xu is accused of accepting infiltration directives and funding, supporting the campaign activities of mayoral candidate Huang Shanshan and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, posing significant criminal suspicion. There are facts to suggest a risk of escape, evidence tampering, collusion with accomplices, or intimidation of witnesses.
The prosecution stated that they have legally applied to the court for Xu Chunying’s detention and isolation, which was approved by the court this afternoon. The other six defendants, who are also implicated in the same crimes, were each ordered by prosecutors to post bail ranging from NT$150,000, and were prohibited from leaving the country or going out to sea.
Xu Chunying currently serves as the head of the Taiwan People’s Party’s New Immigrant Affairs Committee, and today she was ruled to be detained and isolated by the New Taipei District Court. She was controversially included in the party’s at-large legislative nomination list in 2023, which sparked intense debate but was ultimately not nominated.
The Taiwan People’s Party expressed today that they are unaware of the reasons for Xu Chunying’s detention, urging the investigative authorities to act justly and according to proper legal procedures and maintain confidentiality in the investigation process.