TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's government watchdog agency, the Control Yuan (監察院), published Tuesday (July 1) the inaugural asset disclosure for President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) since taking office, detailing his ownership of a single land parcel and one building located in southern Taiwan's Tainan City. Financial records indicate the president's bank accounts have grown by approximately NT$9.09 million (about US$311,100), reaching a total of NT$11,254,024 (approximately US$385,160).
The financial disclosure reveals President Lai maintains a mortgage liability of NT$12,460,395 (approximately US$426,450), reflecting a decrease of about NT$1.4 million (roughly US$47,910) compared to his previous mandatory declaration. The document further indicates his investment portfolio consists exclusively of U.S. Treasury bonds valued at NT$11,862,008 (about US$406,000), suggesting a conservative investment approach typical of high-ranking government officials navigating potential conflicts of interest.
The disclosure documents reveal substantially greater assets for Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who reported ownership of three land parcels and seven buildings distributed across Taiwan's major urban centers including Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taichung City, and Tainan City. The minister has placed two land parcels and two buildings in trust arrangements. Lin's financial portfolio includes bank deposits totaling NT$118,747,482 (approximately US$4.06 million), cash holdings of NT$500,000 (about US$17,110), and securities investments valued at NT$267,543,428 (roughly US$9.16 million), alongside mutual fund certificates worth NT$70,585,967 (about US$2.42 million).
The mandatory financial disclosures also included National Security Council (國安會) Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who serves as Taiwan's top security official. Wu reported owning three land parcels and three buildings located in Taipei City and central Taiwan's Changhua County, with two of the land parcels placed in trust arrangements. His financial assets comprise bank deposits of NT$12,268,888 (approximately US$420,000), cash holdings of NT$319,600 (about US$10,940), securities investments valued at NT$1,239,556 (roughly US$42,420), and bond holdings totaling NT$1,235,126 (about US$42,270). ◼