A former foreign correspondent's claim that votes in Taiwan's Hualien county are all bought has sparked a criminal inquiry and a political backlash, putting the region's reputation and Taiwan's election credibility in the spotlight.

• Former Financial Times Taipei reporter Kathrin Hille said on a TV interview that every vote in Hualien is bought; the local prosecutors' office has opened a case based on news clippings.
• KMT caucus leader Fu Kun-chi, who is from Hualien, called the remark an insult to Hualien voters and to Taiwan's democracy, saying accusations need names, times, places and hard proof.
• Fu urged the reporter to hand any evidence to prosecutors and warned that press freedom should not shield vague claims used as election smear material.
• All three candidates for Hualien county chief want a full investigation, and want Hualien cleared if nothing is found.

Outlook: Prosecutors will look for concrete evidence, and with the county chief race under way the row is likely to stay a campaign issue.