Hualien prosecutors investigate vote buying allegations by former FT reporter

Kathrin Hille, a former reporter for the Financial Times, has alleged that vote buying is prevalent in Hualien, Taiwan. Hille stated that she has witnessed neighbors openly discussing the price of votes and placing cash on tables.

In response to these claims, the Hualien District Prosecutors Office has officially opened an investigation into the matter. Local political figures have reacted sharply; Kuomintang legislator Fu Kun-chi demanded that Hille provide concrete evidence and accused her of smearing the city, while KMT candidate You Shu-chen suggested legal action might be pursued if the allegations are found to be defamatory.

Other local candidates, including Zhang Jun and Wei Jia-xian, have also called for specific evidence to be presented to judicial authorities to clear the reputation of Hualien voters. Historical data cited in local commentary notes that Hualien has frequently been associated with election fraud cases and high whistleblower rewards in previous years.