Heartbroken Father Yen Ching-chang Reads Impeachment Document in Tears: Yang Chen-yi Has Deceived Her Conscience and Is Making a Last Stand

Yen Hui-hsin, former Deputy Chief Negotiator of the Office of Trade Negotiations, passed away in March due to illness, after enduring prolonged workplace bullying. Following the Control Yuan's release of the impeachment document against Chief Negotiator Yang Chen-yi, Yen Hui-hsin's father, former Finance Minister Yen Ching-chang, issued a statement. After thoroughly reviewing the investigation materials, he learned of the many hardships his daughter had silently endured without ever telling her parents, and criticized Yang Chen-yi for 'deceiving her conscience and stubbornly resisting' during the investigation.

On July 29, the Control Yuan announced the impeachment document and review decision, concluding that Yang Chen-yi obstructed and weakened Yen Hui-hsin's participation in key duties. During important trade negotiations and delegations, Yang restricted team members from providing support, engaged in high-pressure intimidation, and isolated and excluded colleagues—constituting serious misconduct. The case has been referred to the Disciplinary Court for further proceedings.

In response, Yang Chen-yi expressed regret if her strict management style caused discomfort among colleagues. She emphasized that she has dedicated decades to foreign economic negotiations solely to advance Taiwan's national interests and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

How much suffering did Yen Hui-hsin endure?

In his statement, Yen Ching-chang said he and his wife read the Control Yuan's materials in tears, only then realizing the extent of their daughter's silent suffering under hostile treatment. After cross-referencing testimonies from multiple individuals—especially colleagues from the same work environment—the Control Yuan's findings diverged from the Executive Yuan's special investigation. Yen expressed gratitude to the investigating commissioners for their work.

Regarding Yang Chen-yi's claim of having long served national interests through trade negotiations, Yen Ching-chang questioned her credibility. He pointed out that during the reception of the 'Indo-Pacific / New Southbound Policy Journalist Delegation,' Yang gave conflicting accounts to the Executive Yuan and Control Yuan investigations. He also cited her alleged exclusion of Yen Hui-hsin and key support staff from Taiwan-U.S. tariff negotiations in Washington, D.C. 'Can such acts of deception truly be justified as serving the “maximum national interest?”' he asked.

Yen Ching-chang: Trade Negotiations Are Not the Achievement of Yang Chen-yi Alone

Yen Ching-chang emphasized that the Office of Trade Negotiations has had only two chief negotiators in its 18-year history. Taiwan's long-term trade policy has been the result of collaborative efforts by government agencies, domestic think tanks, and numerous professionals—not the achievement of any single individual. He criticized Yang for portraying her experience as a personal crusade for national interests, arguing that this overlooks the contributions of the entire team.

Yen also recalled Taiwan's journey in applying for GATT membership and establishing its WTO mission. After becoming Taiwan's first permanent representative in 2002, he faced unresolved negotiation challenges left by predecessors. However, Yang Chen-yi, at the time, failed to provide relevant information or assistance and even instructed economic ministry personnel not to share opinions or documents with him. This remains Yen's unilateral claim, as Yang has not yet responded to these allegations.

Yen noted that the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research compiled a nearly 600-page memorial volume from Yen Hui-hsin's over 2,000-page academic writings, covering topics such as Taiwan-U.S. trade relations, Taiwan's trade policy, regional economic integration, and economic security. He questioned why Yang Chen-yi, who holds power over trade negotiations, repeatedly dismissed and belittled government-recruited experts. 'Does this truly serve the national interest?'

'The past cannot be undone. As parents, we believe Hui-hsin fulfilled her public duty as an intellectual, but her aspirations remained unfulfilled, leaving us with endless sorrow,' said Yen Ching-chang. He expressed hope that the government will establish a comprehensive system for cultivating trade professionals, ensure specialists are properly utilized, and carry forward his daughter's unfinished mission.

Additional exclusive reports from Storm Media: · When will Yang Chen-yi and Yen Hui-hsin's vacancies be filled? Concerns over staffing shortages at the Office of Trade Negotiations—Executive Yuan: Operations remain normal · Yen Ching-chang condemns Yang Chen-yi for bullying Yen Hui-hsin and lying—Tsai Shih-ping said upon reading 'this sentence': 'My eyes welled up' · Yen Hui-hsin's father speaks out for the first time on bullying case—Yen Ching-chang harshly criticizes Yang Chen-yi: 'The lie that she cultivated her is unbelievable'