Taiwan determined to rescue woman kidnapped in east Malaysia

[Neptune]

Taiwan determined to rescue woman kidnapped in east Malaysia: minister

CNA
November 22, 2013, 12:15 am TWN

TAIPEI--The government is trying hard to rescue a Taiwanese woman who was abducted in the East Malaysian state of Sabah last week, Interior Minister Lee Hong-yuan said Thursday.

“We are cooperating with international organizations and have obtained key clues,” Lee said on the sidelines of a hearing of the Legislative Yuan's Internal Administration Committee.

The minister, however, refused to go into detail, saying he would not like to fuel speculations that could endanger the hostage's safety or cause trouble for investigators.

Lee confirmed Wednesday that Taiwan had received a phone call from the Philippines, during which a ransom was requested in connection with Chang An-wei, the woman who was kidnapped on the resort island of Pon Pom off the east coast of Sabah on Nov. 15.

“Police authorities are still trying to verify whether the call was actually from the kidnappers,” Lee said Wednesday.

He also revealed that the government was informed as early as Nov. 17 that Chang, 58, had been taken to the Philippines and was still alive.

His remarks have reportedly caused concern among Malaysian investigators, who fear that their probe might be compromised.

Lee said Thursday that Taiwan's government is exercising prudence and caution in in dealing with the case.

The armed abduction left Chang's 57-year-old husband Hsu Li-ming dead with two bullet wounds in his chest.

A funeral was held in Sabah for Hsu at 11 a.m. Thursday, with his brother and nephews in attendance. The body will be cremated and the ashes brought back to Taiwan.

 

[Neptune]

Military still awaiting order to rescue abducted woman: MND

By Joseph Yeh , The China Post
November 22, 2013, 12:15 am TWN

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The military has not yet received instructions to launch a rescue mission to save a Taiwanese woman who is believed to have been abducted from Malaysia last week, Defense Minister Yen Ming (嚴明) said yesterday.

Chang An-wei (張安薇), 58, was reportedly taken away by several gunmen last Friday while on vacation on Pom Pom Island off the east coast of Sabah.

Her 57-year-old husband, Hsu Li-min (許立民), was found dead after having been shot in the chest. Officials in Taiwan believe Chang is still alive and is taken by kidnappers to the Philippines.

Asked to comment if the military could launch a rescue mission, Yen told lawmakers yesterday that doing so in a foreign country is highly unlikely for R.O.C. armed forces because Taiwan does not have official ties with the Philippines.

“It is unlikely Taiwan will launch military action in a foreign country unless Taiwan is engaged in war with the country in question or Taiwan has signed a mutual defense treaty with that country,” he said.

So far, the MND has also has not received instruction from high-ranking government officials about launching such mission, Yen added.

Yen called Chang's abduction is an “international incident” that the military could not intervene with.

He said the Cabinet has made it clear that the incident will be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police Agency under the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Justice.

But he stressed that the military's special forces do have the capability and have been trained to launch such rescue mission.