China has ‘no right’ to criticize Ko Wen-je ruling: MACBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAChina has “no right” to criticize Taiwan’s democracy after former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was yesterday sentenced to 17 years in jail and deprived of his civil rights for six years on corruption-related charges, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said today. The Taipei District Court made the ruling yesterday, finding Ko guilty of accepting millions in bribes related to the Core Pacific City redevelopment project during his second term as Taipei mayor from 2018 to 2022. Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng speaks at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on May 21 last year. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesChina’s Taiwan Affairs Office swiftly issued a statement criticizing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration. China should not attempt to use this case to further “united front” work and the office’s remarks only reveal its own weaknesses, Chiu said.

Source: Taipei Times March 27, 2026 06:01 UTC