DPP Chair Tsai Ing-wen accepted the resignation of party spokeswoman Hsu Chia-ching on March 9 following Hsu’s recent allegations that former president Chen Shui-bian had accepted billions of NT dollars in bribes from construction magnates during his presidency.

Speaking before the Taiwan Benevolent Association of Dallas, Texas, on February 15, Hsu said she had been told by a wealthy entrepreneur that while attending a gathering during Chen’s presidency, he had heard a number of owners of construction companies offer the then-president between NT$30 million and NT$70 million (US$947,000 and US$2.2 million) each. However, Hsu could offer no corroborating evidence and, conceding that her remarks were inappropriate for a party spokesperson, the former legislator tendered her resignation. She also apologized to Chen and his family for any pain she had caused them. Chen was serving a 19-year prison sentence on other corruption charges when he was released on medical parole early this year.