Taiwan’s air force claims not transporting cash for ex-president
On December 3, 2008, Taiwan’s air force denied allegations that it assisted Taiwan’s ex-president Chen Shui-bian with smuggling cash. A money laundering probe into the ex-president’s activities continue.
Taiwan’s air force stated that it followed the rules strictly to operate the presidential jet and that it did not do anything illegal.
This was announced after new accusations that Chen used the presidential jet to smuggle USD 5.17 million in cash to the island of Palau in the Pacific Ocean during a state visit in 2006. Taiwan and China split after a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still claims that this island is part of its territory and awaits reunification. It should be noted that Palau is one of the 23 countries that formally recognize Taipei over Beijing.