Is the State Machinery Moving Again? Control Yuan Official Investigates Chiang Wan-an's Son's Exchange Program — Yin Wei Reveals: 'Official Document Received'

The recent selection of Chiang Te-li, son of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, for an international exchange student program has sparked widespread public debate. Yin Wei, Chairperson of the Taipei City Government Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, previously revealed that the Ministry of Education's Department of Compulsory Education had expressed concern over the matter, questioning whether 'state machinery' had been activated. Today (11th), Yin Wei further disclosed that the Control Yuan has now issued an official document regarding the case, prompting him to remark, 'It seems the Control Yuan has also sprung into action.'

Yin Wei made the revelation during a broadcast appearance on the radio program 'Chien-Chiu Wan-Shih,' stating that the Control Yuan had sent an official document concerning Chiang Te-li's exchange program. Substitute host Yin Nai-ching responded in surprise, exclaiming, 'They sent an official document?' Yin Wei explained that previously, a Control Yuan specialist had made a preliminary inquiry via phone call, a procedure he described as 'a very specialized term, not commonly heard before. This inquiry is an inquiry, and the procedure is a procedure—it's indeed quite preliminary.'

Yin Wei added that, unbeknownst to the public, the Executive Yuan had entered the fray yesterday, elevating the issue to the Executive Yuan level. The Control Yuan has now issued an official document to the Taipei City Department of Education. 'This is what the Department of Education told me,' Yin Wei said. 'They are asking about the program’s structure and outline. The specific issue may be to request relevant agencies to provide explanations within the scope of what can be disclosed. I believe the public also has the right to ask the Control Yuan exactly what they are doing and what they are asking. It is up to them to decide the extent of disclosure, but it is confirmed that such a document exists.'

Yin Wei questioned the speed of the Control Yuan's response, noting that this raises comparisons with past cases involving Hsu Chia-ching and Chen Ming-wen. 'How much time did the Control Yuan spend on those cases? Yet in this instance, as soon as public opinion emerged, they immediately initiated a preliminary phone inquiry, followed swiftly by an official document. With the Executive Yuan now involved and the Control Yuan escalating its actions, doesn't this prompt the public to question what standard is being applied here?'

On one hand, Yin Wei acknowledged that the Control Yuan's desire to understand the program may fall within its jurisdiction and should be respected. Mayor Chiang Wan-an has stated, 'A noble person is open and aboveboard,' and has entrusted the process to the relevant authorities. However, Yin Wei questioned how such authority can be defined in the absence of Control Commissioners. Moreover, with the Control Yuan currently lacking both a president and commissioners, who exactly issued the official document?

Typically, an official document must bear the Control Yuan's official seal, which represents the institution and is usually authorized by the President. But currently, not only is there no President, but there are no commissioners at all. 'Under these circumstances, how do you draft such a document? Can you write 'Control Yuan' or 'Control Yuan President [Name]'?' Yin Wei suggested that, in the absence of a President, the document must have been issued under acting or final approval—most likely by the Secretary-General, though he admitted he does not know for certain who authorized it.