Professor Kuo Way was accused of being ‘pro-Beijing’ and withdrew from the race to head the Academia Sinica.
TONY.CHEUNG@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Monday, 18 April, 2016, 4:06pm
Professor Kuo Way, president and university distinguished professor of the City University of Hong Kong. Photo: Edward Wong
A prominent Hong Kong professor has withdrawn from the race to head Taiwan’s top research institute, after he was accused of being “pro-Beijing”, in what he called “smearing”.
Hong Kong City University president Professor Kuo Way was regarded by observers as a top candidate for Academia Sinica’s presidency, which is set to be appointed by Taiwan’s outgoing president Ma Ying-jeou from a shortlist of candidates.
Kuo was born in Taipei and is a member of Academia Sinica, but supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party, which defeated Ma’s Kuomintang in the presidential race in January, accused Kuo of being “pro-Beijing”.
Some believed that Kuo is Ma’s favourite as the pair were schoolmates at a Taipei high school, but some suggested that Ma should leave it for his successor, DPP leader Tsai Ing-wen to make the appointment after she takes office next month.
Amid the accusations, Kuo issued a statement on Sunday, announcing his withdrawal from Academia Sinica’s screening process.
“It was my honour to be listed as a recommended candidate,” he said. “But there were a lot of rumours about the screening process ... and many of them were groundless.
“There were also lots of smearing and conspiracy [theories] ... and it is against Taiwan’s well-being for research institutes to ignore professional ethics, and engage in political trickery as well as focus on political affiliation instead,” he said.
“It will only trouble the society and encourage division, and I don’t want these to happen. I am withdrawing from the process to resolve these doubts and worries, so that [discussions] can become rational once again,” Kuo added.
He also described himself as a “politically neutral scholar who is worried about widespread political conflicts in Taiwan”.
Kuo did not respond to questions from the Post on Monday.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1936878/city-university-president-steps-down-race-head-taiwan
