Lawyer Chen Chun-han (陳俊翰), who the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had on its list of legislator-at-large candidates in the Jan. 13 elections, has died, the party said on Thursday.
He was 40.
The DPP said in a statement that Chen died on Sunday following suspected complications after a cold.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
His family did not announce his death until Thursday, as it was the Lunar New Year holiday, it said.
Chen, who had spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), was embroiled in controversy after Chinese journalist Wang Zhian (王志安) — who has lived in Japan since being blacklisted by Beijing — on Jan. 22 imitated his voice on The Night Night Show with Hello and accused the DPP of using his condition to elicit sympathy from voters in the buildup to the legislative elections.
Wang also drew criticism for using a term for disabled people considered derogatory in Taiwan.
Wang on Jan. 26 apologized to Chen, the talk show and the DPP in a livestream on YouTube.
Host Hello (賀瓏) and the production team also apologized to Chen.
Due to having SMA, Chen could only move his eyes, mouth and one finger. He had his legs amputated while at university after they were burned in a fire caused by an electric blanket.
He was connected to a ventilator at the time so was unable to call for help.
Chen studied law at National Taiwan University and received the highest score in Taiwan’s bar exams in 2006.
He went to Harvard University to study for a master’s in law in 2012, passed the New York State Bar exams in 2013 and got his advanced degree in 2014.
Despite being eligible to work as a lawyer in the US and having access to SMA drugs there, Chen returned to Taiwan to pursue a career as a human rights advocate.
“I was born and raised in Taiwan, and I wanted to do more for my country,” he said of his decision.
An advocate of rights for people with disabilities, Chen devoted himself to amending laws to make them more inclusive.
He said he hoped his efforts would help disabled people “achieve self-worth.”
Disabled people are entitled to pursue their dreams, he said.
He called for more support for disabled students on campuses, arguing that if a disabled person worked hard to be admitted, universities should provide more assistance and support to help them make the most of their studies.
Chen in 2022 obtained a doctorate in law from the University of Michigan and became a postdoctoral academic at Academia Sinica in May last year.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President William Lai (賴清德) on Thursday offered their condolences after learning about Chen’s death.
Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin (林聿禪) cited Tsai as saying that Chen was a “fighter.”
The government would continue working to promote rights for disabled people in honor of his legacy, she added.
Lai called Chen an “angel” and said he would be remembered forever.
On Facebook, Hello said that Chen’s resilience was “truly admirable” and thanked him for his “devotion to Taiwan.”
Wang on X offered his condolences and “sincere apologies.”
Wang wrote that he had been penning an apology for two weeks, but kept finding that amendments were needed.
It was “truly regrettable that I was not able to convey my apologies to Lawyer Chen,” he wrote.
He posted the unfinished apology letter on X and apologized again.
He added that he hopes to have the chance to inform more people about Chen’s efforts and achievements.
Saying sorry might not be sufficient to make up for the harm caused, Wang said, adding that he would donate ￥1 million (US$6,654) to the Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS