NT$40 million campaign fund, only NT$18.1 million spent? You Shu-hui questions Cheng: Where did the difference go?

Wu Tzu-chia, chairman of the 'Formosa Post,' recently revealed that former Hsinchu County Magistrate Cheng Yung-jin borrowed NT$40 million from a friend in 2016 to support his son Cheng Chao-huang’s 2018 campaign for Hsinchu County Magistrate, and has not repaid the loan. Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor You Shu-hui questioned this on Facebook today, stating that if the allegations are true, this is not merely a private loan issue but also involves political donations and campaign expenditure reporting—Cheng Chao-huang cannot simply respond with 'no comment.'

You Shu-hui pointed out that according to documents released by Wu Tzu-chia, NT$40 million in cash was withdrawn from a bank on November 29, 2016, allegedly received in person by Cheng Yung-jin, with subsequent repayment notes and Cheng Yung-jin's endorsement. If this sum was indeed raised for Cheng Chao-huang’s 2018 Hsinchu County election campaign, it must be cross-examined with the official political donation reports from that year.

She noted that Cheng Chao-huang declared total campaign expenditures of approximately NT$18.1 million in 2018, leaving a gap of nearly NT$21.9 million compared to the alleged NT$40 million. 'How much of this NT$40 million was actually used for the election? If all of it was used, why was only NT$18.1 million declared? If not all was used, where did the remaining funds go?'

You further stated that even if Cheng Chao-huang claims this was a private loan by his father Cheng Yung-jin, he must clarify whether the candidate himself was aware of the funds, whether he received or used them, and whether the relationship between father and son constitutes a loan, gift, or another legal arrangement.

She also questioned that since repayment notes exist, this formally constitutes a repayable loan. If there are no actual repayment records over many years, and no evidence of debt collection, it is necessary to clarify whether the creditor's claim is genuine or whether this could lead to political donation reporting irregularities.

You emphasized that 'if this were a normal loan, presenting the repayment records over the past eight years would clear everything up.' But if the funds ultimately become non-repayable in practice, does this constitute an uncompensated economic benefit to the candidate? Could it violate political donation regulations? Cheng Chao-huang must provide a direct and comprehensive explanation.

Finally, You stated that 'no comment' is insufficient to dispel public doubts regarding the NT$40 million campaign funding controversy. Cheng Chao-huang must fully disclose the source, use, reporting, and repayment status of the funds.