Theory Emerges That Government Put High speed Rail Bankruptcy Into Motion

Speculation has emerged that the government put into motion a plan to force the high-speed rail into bankruptcy years ago. One theory surmises that a high-level official in the government blocked a financing plan to save the ailing Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. owing to a personal vendetta. According to reports, two years ago former THSRC Chairwoman Nita Ing sent a private letter to then-Premier Sean Chen. Ing claimed that a high-level Cabinet official had blocked a financing plan in order to force a government take-over of the high-speed rail. Some believe that this official was then-Transportation Minister Mao Chih-kuo.Chen Chien-yuActing Transportation MinisterBased on my understanding of Premier Mao, he would not hurt public interests for personal reasons.While the Ministry of Transportation denies the speculation, DPP Legislator Huang Wei-cher says it’s plausible. Huang believes that problems between Mao and Ing could have emerged in 2004 when Ing did not choose Mao to serve as CEO of THSRC.Huang Wei-cherDPP LegislatorThe annual salary for the CEO of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. is as much as NT$6-7 million, and the position doesn’t require direct oversight by the Legislature. It was a desirable job. Nita Ing wouldn’t have offered it as a political favor. This could be when problems emerged between Ing and Mao.Tsai Chi-changDPP LegislatorThere’s probably a close connection to Mao. I think everyone can go ask the premier because it seems like he played a very important role at the time.Today lawmakers reviewed legislation that would provide a legal basis for the ministry to take over the high-speed rail. The legislation would pave the way for fines of up to NT$25 million if the system operator doesn’t adhere to ministry directives.