Wu Tongxiong's Perspective: Timeline Evidence in the Tzu Chi Vaccine Procurement Case – Did Chen Shih-chung’s Dereliction Become a Weapon Against Chiang Wan-an?

On August 6, the District Prosecutors Office indicted 17 brokers involved in Tzu Chi’s vaccine procurement case. On the same day, Chen Shih-chung publicly emphasized that he had long warned of 'vaccine scammers' and demanded an apology from those accusing the government of blocking vaccine purchases—directing his criticism at Chiang Wan-an. The ruling party, its political allies, and affiliated media immediately demonstrated their 'coordinated combat' capability, launching a full-scale political attack on Chiang. A judicial case thus mutated like a virus into a political weapon.

Was Chen Yu-hsuan simply lucky? Was it coincidence, or was there foul play? The next day, a photo emerged showing Chen Shih-chung and Chen Yu-hsuan—whom he later implied was a 'scammer'—wearing matching 'epidemic prevention center vests' on September 2, 2021. Chen Shih-chung held a sign reading 'Thank You, Tzu Chi,' with Chen Yu-hsuan present as one of Tzu Chi’s representatives. Tsai Ing-wen even used this photo as a meme, publicly thanking Tzu Chi under her own name, with Chen Yu-hsuan still included in the image.

Subsequent investigations revealed that before the procurement case, Chen Yu-hsuan had been appointed by Lin Chia-lung—known as a 'Little Tsai Boy'—as a legal aid lawyer for Taichung City during his tenure as mayor. She also had records and photos of interactions with multiple central and local officials and legislators from the ruling party.

A particularly notable background is that Chen Shih-chung—according to revelations by Terry Gou, and allegedly under Tsai Ing-wen’s direction—had strongly blocked private vaccine procurement. Under these circumstances, the idea that Chen Yu-hsuan would 'scam' Tzu Chi seems objectively bizarre. Even if she signed a consultancy contract, if no vaccines were delivered, unless she had already arranged an escape plan, she would face severe legal consequences and gain nothing.

However, shortly after Tzu Chi signed a contract with Chen Yu-hsuan on June 9, 2021, Chen Shih-chung opened private vaccine procurement on June 18. Yet in his June 22 statement, he still excluded Tzu Chi, only including them at the last minute on July 1. Was Chen Yu-hsuan just incredibly lucky? Coincidence, or was there manipulation?

Chen Shih-chung’s photo with the alleged 'scammer' Chen Yu-hsuan—was this an endorsement? Opinions may vary. However, given Chen Shih-chung’s confident claims of thorough investigation, between June 22 and July 1, he must have at least verified Chen Yu-hsuan’s identity as a 'green ally.' While Chen Yu-hsuan may have defrauded Tzu Chi, was someone informing her that she could safely scam?

On August 7, Tsai Ing-wen posted on Facebook: 'People don’t need to believe in any single political party, but they must believe in expertise.' Contrasted with her personalized meme thanking individuals including the 'scammer' Chen Yu-hsuan, the message carries deep irony.

Government’s 10-Month Blockade (September 2020 Onward), Possibly Causing Over 10,000 Deaths

Timeline evidence is one of the best ways to verify causality. Below is a factual timeline of actions by all parties involved in the Tzu Chi case, allowing us to observe:

First, what exactly was the Tzu Chi case? A balanced assessment of civil and criminal disputes.

Second, what were the respective responsibilities of Chen Shih-chung and Tzu Chi? Can this prove the Tsai administration could have bought vaccines but chose not to?

Third, why did the Tzu Chi procurement fraud case shift into a political attack on Chiang Wan-an? Comparing similar cases—such as small, unrelated companies selling major military equipment—Tzu Chi’s deal went through. What about cases that failed to deliver or pass inspection? Will prosecutors investigate those similarly in the future?

Government’s 'Blocking' of Vaccines—Timeline (Provided by Author)

From Civil Dispute to Criminal Fraud Case

Li Yi-ju and Chen Yu-hsuan, former president of the Changhua Bar Association, operated 'Yuda Enterprise Management Consulting Company,' which undertook Tzu Chi’s expected BNT vaccine procurement. Their contract included a $30 million USD consultancy fee (commission).

Ultimately, Tzu Chi partnered with TSMC and Foxconn to jointly donate and procure 15 million doses, fulfilling the contract. Even if the commission was high, with both parties satisfied, it didn’t even qualify as a civil dispute.

However, prosecutors determined the brokers 'knew they lacked the ability to perform the task,' merely 'hitching a ride on Foxconn’s coattails' while collecting massive fees. Thus, they charged Chen Yu-hsuan and others with fraud, breach of trust, falsifying business documents, tax evasion, and aggravated money laundering.

Tzu Chi’s Governance Responsibility Remains Unclear

The establishment of a criminal case does not absolve Tzu Chi of internal governance accountability. For example: Who approved the $30 million USD consultancy fee? Was there a verification process in the decision-making? Reports indicate Master Cheng Yen expressed doubts, asking, 'Why is it so expensive?' but was talked down by Chen Yu-hsuan’s rhetoric. What exactly was that 'rhetoric'? Was there insider information? Was it sufficient to mislead an ordinary person? These questions highlight ongoing challenges in financial oversight for religious corporations.

Chen Shih-chung’s Dereliction Through Delay and Obstruction

The timeline confirms Chen Shih-chung’s prior 'obstruction and delay'—a dereliction of duty. Of course, he couldn’t have done this alone; it involved top-level directives and internal factional struggles, but he remained the primary executor.

Vaccines weren’t unavailable—they were blocked by policy, more precisely, 'political obstruction and delay.'

In September 2020, former Premier Lin Chuan and DPP legislator Wu Ping-jui separately negotiated vaccine procurement, both of which collapsed. Reports vaguely pointed to factional infighting within the DPP, with massive procurement budgets leading to mutual blocking to keep 'profits within the family.' After his failure, Lin Chuan accused the government of reneging on promises and publicly noted abnormal stock trading before and after the collapse, suggesting possible insider trading. A major procurement deal involves more than one kind of 'profit.'

A clearer piece of evidence came from Chen Shih-chung’s own testimony in court: he rejected Lin Chuan and Wu Ping-jui’s efforts but personally initiated a BNT procurement deal, finalizing a contract at $43 per dose—about 43% higher than the later private purchase price. Multiplied by total doses, the profit margin difference is staggering.

Turning a 'Procurement Deal' into a 'Taiwan Independence Case'—Signed but Rejected

Chen Shih-chung later testified in court that this contract was submitted for Executive Yuan approval on January 6, 2021, and Taiwan’s side had already signed. But by then, the Tsai administration had already begun a 'viral mutation,' attempting to package the deal as a 'Taiwan independence political case,' marketing the transaction as 'Germany recognizing Taiwan.' The manufacturer discovered this and rejected the deal.

This became the then-sensational '30-year classified secret case.' What secret could there be in an uncompleted procurement? The secret lies in the 'truth that the regime prioritized political interests over people’s lives,' and the suspicious price difference.

Afterward, Chen Shih-chung, green politicians, and party-affiliated media continued claiming vaccines were 'unavailable' or attacked the BNT vaccine as 'inferior,' when in reality, they simply didn’t want to buy. Another purpose was to use public funds to purchase 'Medigen' vaccines. Yet Medigen still lacks international certification—a separate issue, or perhaps another hidden scandal.

This 'political obstruction and delay'—proven by Lin Chuan’s attempt and Chen Shih-chung’s own capability—turned into a 'ban on purchasing' that lasted over 10 months until July 2021. Taiwan was trapped in an artificially created vaccine shortage, potentially causing over 10,000 deaths.

Even Buddha Jumps the Wall—Terry Gou’s Midnight Plea to Tsai Ing-wen

Chen Shih-chung ignored mass deaths, but civic groups couldn’t bear watching the tragedy daily. Tzu Chi, Foxconn, and TSMC—reputable and financially capable—offered to donate vaccines.

But it was the Tsai administration that blocked them, using the pandemic as a political tool, refusing purchases despite availability. 'Even Buddha jumps the wall'—desperation drove Tzu Chi to sign a contract with Chen Yu-hsuan on June 9.

The Tsai administration’s 'strong obstruction' was confirmed by Terry Gou, who later revealed: 'On June 17, Lee Tai-hsiang told me: 'This young lady says you should still not buy.' ' Gou then issued an 8-point statement at midnight, demanding a meeting with Tsai Ing-wen.

Unable to suppress Gou and sensing rising public anger, Tsai changed course, meeting Gou and TSMC on the afternoon of June 18, approving their procurement and portraying herself as a 'benevolent ruler' responding to Gou’s appeal.

Yet on June 22, Chen Shih-chung still claimed 'too much private procurement could cause confusion,' rejecting multiple organizations and counties—including Tzu Chi—from self-procurement.

On July 1, Chen Shih-chung finally allowed TSMC and Foxconn to import BNT vaccines under a special project, and at the last minute, included Tzu Chi. One must again wonder: was Chen Yu-hsuan just incredibly lucky? Coincidence, or manipulation?

Private Purchases Arrive Immediately—Chen Shih-chung’s 'Couldn’t Buy' Claim Was a Lie

On September 2, the first batch of BNT vaccines arrived in Taiwan, again proving Chen Shih-chung’s claim of 'couldn’t buy' was a lie.

On that day, Chen Shih-chung took a photo with Chen Yu-hsuan, whom he later implied was a 'scammer'; Tsai Ing-wen used the same photo as a thank-you meme under her own name.

The procurement was originally concluded, so it remained quiet for five years—until prosecutors deemed Chen Yu-hsuan and others had fraudulently 'hitched a ride.'

The fact of government vaccine obstruction does not disappear because Tzu Chi was scammed

This is merely a criminal case, yet Chen Shih-chung suddenly emerged, claiming he had warned of scams and demanding an apology from those who accused the government of blocking vaccines—once again mutating a judicial case into a political weapon. The green camp, party, government, and media immediately followed suit, demonstrating 'coordinated combat' to fully attack Chiang Wan-an, one of the original critics.

But 'government blocking vaccines' and 'Tzu Chi being scammed' are two independent facts. The latter’s occurrence does not erase the former. Timeline evidence clearly shows: 'The government indeed blocked vaccines for over 10 months.'

Chen Shih-chung mentioned fraud risks, but his delays and