Wu Nai-jen Owes T$1.7 Billion to Taiwan Sugar: 'Paying T$50,000 Monthly for 300 Years'? Wang Hung-wei Slams Absurd Plan, Accuses Ministry of Economic Affairs of Cover-up

Former chairman of Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar), Wu Nai-jen, is reportedly in arrears of nearly NT$1.7 billion, sparking widespread public concern. During a legislative inquiry at the Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today (10th), People First Party legislator Chen Chao-tzu questioned Taisugar's Deputy General Manager Tsai Tung-lin, demanding disclosure of Wu's repayment plan. Tsai responded that Taisugar has not accepted the repayment proposal submitted by Wu and therefore will not disclose its details.

Kuomintang legislator Wang Hung-wei raised concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the repayment plan Wu submitted after the court withdrew the asset seizure order. Wang revealed that internal sources indicate Wu's proposed repayment terms involve paying NT$50,000 per month, with interest, meaning it would take approximately 300 years to fully repay the NT$1.7 billion debt. Wang criticized the proposal as utterly lacking in sincerity, especially given that Wu is now 79 years old. She accused Taisugar of delegating all major decisions to lawyers and agents, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), as the overseeing authority, of abdicating responsibility by citing 'respect' and 'jurisdiction,' thereby violating public trust.

Wang condemned Taisugar and the MOEA for lifting the asset seizure and allowing Wu to remain free, calling it a serious dereliction of duty. In response, Tsai stated that the figure of NT$50,000 per month 'does not quite match the facts,' but declined to elaborate, citing that negotiations are still ongoing. Tsai emphasized that both parties' representatives have scheduled another round of negotiations for late August. If Wu fails to present a reasonable and acceptable proposal by then, Taisugar will reapply to the court for asset seizure.

MOEA Minister Kung Ming-hsin stated that the ministry's core objective is also to successfully recover state-owned enterprises' debts. Kung emphasized that debt recovery involves negotiation tactics and legal procedures, and the MOEA respects Taisugar's assessment and hierarchical accountability. In response, Wang criticized the MOEA for continuing to 'respect' Taisugar's chairman and general manager, Wu Ming-chang, despite his inadequate performance.

She angrily questioned, 'The chairman is absent, the general manager is absent—does Taisugar have no one left? Does the MOEA have no capable personnel? Are we to let one person hold both positions?' Regarding Kung's reference to 'negotiation tactics,' Wang sarcastically asked whether this implies that anyone who owes taxes, fines, or regulatory fees to the government in the future can simply negotiate their way out.

Wang stressed that as a state-owned enterprise, Taisugar is recovering public tax money and must not privately conceal negotiation details. She demanded that Taisugar and the MOEA fully disclose Wu Nai-jen's specific repayment plan to the public after the August negotiations conclude. If cover-up or delay continues, those responsible will not escape charges of dereliction of duty.