The case involving Jacqueline Liu, former director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City who pleaded guilty to labor fraud, will be handled in a fair and open manner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Jan. 31.
International, ROC and U.S. law will all be taken into account, along with civil service regulations and the protection of human rights, MOFA said.
In a press statement, MOFA noted that the case of Liu, who was arrested in the U.S. last November and charged with fraud in connection with her treatment of two Filipino maids, involves a number of complex issues, including the views of Taiwan and the U.S. on the definition of diplomatic immunity and its implementation under their bilateral agreement signed in 1980, as well as U.S. judicial independence and Liu’s personal rights.
MOFA said that since the start of the case, it has consistently and firmly insisted to U.S. officials via diplomatic channels that diplomatic immunity should be upheld under the pact and that Liu ought to be released.
The ministry stressed that Liu’s entering of a plea bargain does not mean that the ROC government has given up its position on diplomatic immunity. It said the case of Liu, as a diplomat, should have been handled according to the terms of the agreement and that she should not have been arrested and detained.
Through its protests and negotiations, MOFA said, the U.S. side has come to understand that the accord is not complete. American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt said in Taipei Jan. 31 that the U.S. has agreed to launch talks with Taiwan on enhancing the agreement, the ministry pointed out.
MOFA called Liu’s appearance in court in a prison jumpsuit and wrist and ankle shackles “an extremely unfortunate event.”
It said the government has voiced protests to the U.S. several times and U.S. State Department officials have also expressed concerns, while noting that the U.S. judiciary is completely independent and that the executive branch cannot intervene in the case.
The ministry said it would continue to cooperate with investigations into the case by the Control Yuan and prosecutors, and would wait until it had a full explanation from Liu upon her return to Taiwan before completing its investigative report and deciding on an appropriate course of action.
It will also continue to actively engage in negotiations with the U.S. side on diplomatic immunity issues, MOFA said.
A U.S. judge agreed to Liu’s plea bargain Jan. 27. Following her deportation, she will be summoned for questioning in Taiwan, according to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. (SB)