Taiwan Supreme Court sentences village chief in China-funded election interference case

Taiwan's Supreme Court has issued a final ruling against Yao Wei-hua, a former village chief in New Taipei City, and Chien An-shih, chairman of the Chinese Youth Cultural and Educational Exchange Association, for their roles in an election interference scheme.

Investigations revealed that in 2023, the duo accepted funding from the Nanjing Taiwan Affairs Office to organize a trip to mainland China. The group, consisting of five village chiefs and nine relatives, received free accommodation and meals in Nanjing and Huai'an, Jiangsu province, while only paying for their own airfare. During the trip, officials from the Nanjing and Huai'an Taiwan Affairs Offices reportedly promoted specific political slogans and candidates to influence the upcoming presidential and legislative elections.

While a lower court initially acquitted the pair, the High Court overturned the decision, finding that the provided travel benefits constituted improper interests intended to influence voters. The Supreme Court has now upheld the sentences: Yao Wei-hua was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, and Chien An-shih received 4 years and 8 months. Both have also been stripped of their civil rights. The convictions were based on violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act and the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act.