The approval goes against local media reports yesterday, which predicted that Chen’s propensity to make ostentatious displays of personally giving away his money through donations might prevent him from getting the pass.
“The headlines are all incorrect,” said Minister Lai Shin-Yuan of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) under the Executive Yuan.
Philanthropy is a good thing, the minister continued, something that “the government would never block” or prevent from happening. The council’s spokesman Liu Te-shun added that MAC was not involved with Chen’s approved visit this time; it had gone through the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) before being reviewed by the NIA as the application was listed as a business trip.
Chen’s very public trip to Taiwan and the reported NT$500 million donation attached drew mixed feelings from local governments. Initially, Chen had expressed desire to hand out the money to the disadvantaged, something that rubbed many the wrong way.
New Taipei City Mayor Eric Liluan Chu, Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin, and the Taoyuan county government were all concerned about the logistics of the donation and how the give-away would disrespect the needy.
Local media reports cited that Chen’s visit application had a last-minute change in his listed daily events; more importantly, it stated that donations will be dispensed through local charity groups.
Hualien County Commissioner Fu Kun-chi was one of the few who expressed gratitude at Chen’s generosity. Chen Guangbiao’s good intentions show that compassion and kindness knows no borders, Fu said, adding that who among the wealthy in Taiwan has ever contributed an all-out donation of the same magnitude? In lieu of throwing costly year-end parties, Fu urged the nation’s companies and well-heeled businessmen to follow Chen’s example.
According to the NIA, Chen is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on Jan. 26 and depart on Feb. 1. The Chinese philanthropist has a packed itinerary that includes dinner with the Organic Garden Biological Technology Company in Hsinchu County the night he arrives. The next day, he will visit the National Palace Museum before attending a Hsinchu County government-sponsored conference on cross-strait philanthropic efforts.
On Jan. 28, Chen is slated to attend a conference with the Taichung branch of the Organic Garden Biological Technology Company to explain and discuss the ways to dispense donation funds, before heading to Nantou County the next day to attend a government-sponsored event and ending up at The Grand Hotel in Taipei City.
By Jan. 30, Chen will be in Hualien County. On the last day of his trip, Chen will head back to Taipei City and squeeze in visits to The Flora Expo, Taipei 101 and the Xinyi financial district before leaving on Feb. 1.