Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council faces controversy over birthday celebration

The Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) is facing intense scrutiny following allegations that official funds and resources were used to host a farewell and birthday celebration for former chairperson Hsu Chia-ching during a recent meeting at the Grand Hotel Taipei.

Members of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) have criticized the event, alleging a blurring of public and private interests. TPP legislator Chen Chih-han reported that the OCAC spent approximately 13.42 million TWD on three banquets during the four-day meeting, which included hosting 173 overseas community members. Critics pointed to the inclusion of birthday tributes, flowers, and a commemorative video for Hsu as evidence of misuse of taxpayer money.

In response, several overseas community members held a press conference to defend the event, stating that the celebrations were spontaneous expressions of gratitude from the community and did not involve additional public expenditure. They emphasized that many members personally funded their travel and that some even donated their government subsidies back to charity. The OCAC has indicated it may take legal action against those spreading what it describes as misinformation.