Taiwan’s Most Controversial Event

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Last November 11, 2008, former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian rose his hands with handcuffs as he is led away from the Taiwan prosecutor’s office in Taipei.  Millions of spectators worldwide watched this dramatic scene on the TV news.  My father, who is also a Chinese residing in Philippines, has been keeping on the details of the news about the former President Chen Shui-bian.

In the year 2000, former President Chen Shui-bian pledged to fix the corruption done by the Nationalist Party.  He has a strong conviction that Taiwan is a free country and separated from China’s territory.  Last Friday, he was found guilty of embezzling $3.15 million during his 2000-2008 presidency from a special presidential fund, receiving bribes worth of $9 million, money laundering, and document forgery.  In addition, former Taiwan’s First Lady Wu Shu-Chen was also convicted to life sentence in corruption charges.

The critics were divided in half.  According to Apple Daily in its editorial, Chen’s conviction could be the best warning to all parties and politicians, and it would be a breakthrough to Taiwan’s fight against corruption.  However, many media organization concerned about the trial procedure and the ex-president’s human rights.  They said that the flawed process of judiciary had led a negative impact on Taiwan’s democratic development and international image.