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Chen-Shui-bian photo By Chen-shui-bian

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Chen Shui-bian

Chen Shui-bian was born on October 12, 1950. He is a retired Taiwanese politician and lawyer who served as the president of the Republic of China in Taiwan from 2000 to 2008 with Annette Lu as vice president. He was the first president from the Democratic Progressive Party (DDP).

He married Wu Shu -Chen in 1975, she is a Taiwanese politician as well served one term in the legislative Yuan, and as the wife, of president Chen Shui-bian she became the first lady of the Republic of China. The couple is blessed with 2 children Chen Hsing-Yu, who is a dentist (daughter) and Chen Chih-Chung, a lawyer (son).

Chen has served in different seats in Taiwan such as; In 1981 won a seat in the Taipei City Council as a Tangwai candidate, was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1989 and served as the executive director of the DPP caucus among others.

1. Served as President of the Republic of China

Chen Shui-bian is an ex-president of the republic of China. He entered politics in the year 1980 during the Kaohsiung Incident as a member of the Tangwai movement. When Chen was released from prison helped found the Democracy Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986 and he became a member.

In 1994 he was elected the mayor of Taipei and during reelection in 1998, he was defeated in his bid. However, the loss was of advantage since it freed him to pursue the DPP’s presidential nomination in 2000.

He won the 2000 presidential election on March 18 and served as the president of the Republic of China, Taiwan from 2000 to 2008. Shui-bian was the first president of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

2. He is a Retired Lawyer

Shui-bian is a retired Taiwanese Lawyer. He broke records for being the first youngest Taiwan Lawyer for he passed his bar examination before the completion of his junior year.

He was an intelligent lawyer and handled his cases with wisdom and presented his clients well. For instance, when he handled the political cases of Hsin-Chieh and seven co-defendants, people argued that he has wonderful arguments towing his case which made him popular despite the defeat.

3. Born in Poor Family and Became Successful

Chen was born into a poor family and that did not limit him from prosperity. He came from a farming family and they depended on the farming product to sustain their living which wasn’t enough.

He passed his examination in high school and graduated with honour and by good luck, Chen won a scholarship to National Taiwan University and graduated with honors from its law department.

After his graduation, he joined a private practice and with no time he became one of Taiwan’s leading attorneys. It is interesting for him to become successful despite his background.

4. Real Birth Date of Chen is Unknown

The exact day and birthdate of Shui-bian are not known. This is one of the surprising facts about the lawyer.

According to a government biography, they said that when Chen was born was weak as an infant and this made his family not to register his birth with the local census bureau since they thought he would survive until the year 1951.

 Thus, his identification certificate indicated his birth date as February 18, 1951, which is not the real date, it is said he was born on October 5, 1950. 

5. He Gained Interest in Politics after Defending Political Case

Chen-Shui-bian photo By Chen-shui-bian

The lawyer gain interested in politics in 1980 when he defended the participants of the Kaohsiung Incident in a military court.

His client was Huang Hsin-Chieh, the leading opposition dissident, and seven co-defendants, including Annette Lu who became his future Vice President, were found guilty.

After the case, he was widely known for his forceful and wonderful arguments in his cases. Chen stated that at that time he realized the unfairness of the political system in Taiwan and became politically active in the Tangwai movement.

6. Chen has Won Several Seat During his Political Journey

Chen-Shui-bian photo By Chen-shui-bian

After Chen became politically active, he won several seats in Taipei. In 1981, he won a seat in the Taipei City Council as a Tangwai candidate and served until 1985.

Chen was elected to the Legislative Yuan and served as the executive director of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus in 1989. He was as well elected as the mayor of Taipei in 1994.

 In march 18, 2000 he won the presidential election and ruled as the president of the Republic of China from 2000-2008. He was the first candidate to be president of the Democratic Progressive Party (DDP). The list is big he was the leader of other several seats.

7. His Son has Studied Law like Him

It is interesting to know that despite Chen being a Successful lawyer his son Chen Chih-Chung followed his footsteps and studied law at university.

Chen Chih-Chung joined the university of Taiwan and graduated with a law degree. That was not enough he joined the University of California; Berkeley and he gained a Master of Laws in 2005.

8. He was Taiwan’s Youngest Lawyer

Chen has left a legacy in Taiwan for being the youngest lawyer. He has been a bright child and always living a good record for each level of his education.

After Chen graduated from National Tainan First Senior High School with honours he was admitted to National Taiwan University, the most comprehensive University on the Island for he had passed.

Initially, he had registered as a business administration major but he switched to study law in his first year. He became the editor of the school’s law review. Before the completion of his junior year, he passed the bar exams with the highest score, hence becoming Taiwan’s youngest lawyer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in commercial law.

9. Chen is Academically Bright Since Young Age

Chen-Shui-bian photo By Chen-shui-bian

Shui-bian has been a bright kid academically. Since his young level, he has been achieving honours. He was educated in Mandarin Chinese, which replaced Japanese and became the national language after the end of the Japanese administration of Taiwan.

At his high school level, he graduated with honours from the prestigious National Tainan First Senior High School. After joining University in June 1969 and studied intentional law, he passed his bar exams and graduated with a Bachelor of law in Commercial Law from National Taiwan University.

10. Her Wife was a Taiwanese Politician

Politician Chen is married to Wu Shu-Chen, a Taiwanese politician. From 1987-1990 Wu served one term in the Legislative Yuan.

She was the first lady of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008 for her husband Chen Shui-bian was president.