Spying claim against Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou
(AP) Taiwan's opposition challenger for the presidency has accused intelligence services under the control of incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou of tracking her campaign events for political advantage.
The allegations – unproven and denied by Ma – conjure up memories of Taiwan's one-party past when Ma's party, the Nationalists, used their total control of the state apparatus to persecute opponents.
"Even if the president did not give an order for monitoring, the heads of intelligence were appointed by him, and they could take the elections as a good time to return the favours," the mass-circulation Apple Daily said in an editorial published on Friday.
The 14 January poll pits Ma, 61, against Tsai Ing-wen, 55, of the main opposition Democratic Progressive party. Polls indicate an extremely tight race.
full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/03/spying-claim-taiwan-president-election
