Hsu Chia-chyi, minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, has resigned after her family members were accused of misusing the resources of Taiwan's overseas missions — negative news for the governing Democratic Progressive Party, particularly ahead of elections.

• Hsu announced her resignation today and asked for administrative and judicial investigations into herself, stressing that she had never wasted public funds or sought benefits for her family.
• She said she had been subjected to repeated rumours and distortions in recent days, and that even after clarifying the facts she had found no room for rational policy debate.
• The accusations came from the Taiwan People's Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan, which said her family members had misused the resources of overseas missions.
• DPP caucus whip Chuang Ruei-hsiung said Taiwan is a society governed by the rule of law, that the use of official resources is subject to strict rules and that no one enjoys special privileges, adding that the party supports a thorough investigation by the executive branch and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• The DPP caucus denied that the resignation was related to the election campaign, saying there should be neither wrongful blame nor leniency, and that any illegality or abuse of authority uncovered would be handled according to law.

Outlook: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the executive branch will launch investigations, the post of Overseas Community Affairs Council minister remains to be filled, and the case could continue to reverberate through the election.