Chen Shui-bian apologizes to daughter over divorce fund dispute

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has issued a public apology to his daughter, Chen Hsing-yu, regarding the complications surrounding her divorce from Chao Chien-ming. Chen Shui-bian admitted to misjudging the situation and the character of his son-in-law, stating that his attempts to handle the divorce privately to avoid public scrutiny led to significant legal and financial obstacles.

Specifically, Chen Shui-bian confessed that he advised his daughter not to hire lawyers or private investigators and personally acted as a witness to the divorce agreement. He admitted to a critical error: at Chao Chien-ming's request, he allowed a clause to be removed that would have ensured the return of a 23 million TWD education and employment fund for Chen Hsing-yu's three children. He expressed regret that this decision has made recovering those funds difficult.

In a separate development related to the divorce, Chen Hsing-yu has clarified her stance on a local community event in Tainan titled the ‘2026 Tainan Literary Heartbreak Movement: Guillotine the Beauty Art Festival.’ While the event was organized by local citizens to support her, Chen Hsing-yu has requested that organizers ‘do not cause trouble’ to avoid further complications.