TAIPEI, Taiwan has asked authorities in the Philippines to arrest and extradite Chen Yu-hao, one of Taiwan’s most wanted fugitives, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokeswoman Eleanor Wang said on Wednesday. The ministry and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines have made several requests to the Philippine authorities to extradite Chen, former chairman of conglomerate Tuntex Group, having learned that the Taiwanese fugitive is planning to invest US$369 billion in the Philippines as part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which seeks to build a modern Silk Road linking Asia, Africa and Europe. Chen acquired Chinese citizenship in 2013 which enables him to travel to the Philippines freely. In response, his Republic of China citizenship was revoked. Chen, a US passport holder, fled Taiwan after dissolving Tuntex Group in 2001, when Taiwanese authorities launched a probe into allegations he embezzled NT$70 billion (US$2.31 billion). In addition to the alleged embezzlement and breach of trust, Chen also owes NT$450 million in personal income tax in Taiwan.

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