President Ma Ying-jeou announced yesterday that the government will establish a new anti-corruption agency to show its determination to restore political ethics. And the announcement seemed especially timely in the wake of a major bribery scandal in the judicial system. However, doubt persists as to the effectiveness of this new agency.

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Following the example of Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan will finally have its own version of a special administration to prevent corruption. President Ma Ying-jeou announced on Tuesday that a new anti-corruption agency will soon be established to eradicate bribery in the public sector.

According to the preliminary plan, the new agency will be positioned under the Ministry of Justice, with a staff of around 400 people including investigators and prosecutors. The president believes that the new agency will complement existing anti-bribery mechanisms in the government and form a more comprehensive network against corruption.

Despite the presidents optimism, many worry that the new agency isn't independent at all, being subject to authorities that don't seem immune to corruption. Besides, whether synergies would be produced from overlapping mechanisms like the president predicted remains uncertain. Perhaps it takes substantial achievements from the new agency to quiet these voices.