Chen Hsing-yu Confirms Divorce from Orthopedic Surgeon Chao Chien-ming! Her Infamous 2008 Outburst Resurfaces: 'Which DPP Member Didn’t Take My Father’s Money?'

Chen Hsing-yu, daughter of former President Chen Shui-bian, confirmed today (the 13th) that she has divorced orthopedic surgeon Chao Chien-ming. The couple married in 2001 and have three sons together, having spent nearly 25 years in marriage before officially parting ways. Following the news of their divorce, renewed attention has emerged regarding Chen Hsing-yu’s long history of media scrutiny, particularly her emotional outburst in 2008 during the height of the Chen family corruption scandal, when she shouted at reporters: 'Which DPP member didn’t take my father’s money?'—a moment that remains a memorable news clip for many.

Chen Hsing-yu’s explosive 2008 declaration—'Which DPP member didn’t take my father’s money?'—continues to resonate with many people today. (Image: Screenshot from Chen Shui-bian’s Facebook page 'Chen Shui-bian’s New Yong-ge Wuzhi')

During the 2008 political storm surrounding the Chen family’s overseas money laundering case, every move by Chen Shui-bian and his family became front-page news. Chen Hsing-yu, in particular, was frequently ambushed by reporters. Facing relentless questioning and camera flashes, she often reacted with visible emotional distress. Her frustration peaked when she saw her father’s former political allies publicly distancing themselves from the Chen family. In a moment of raw emotion, she defended her father in front of the press, shouting: 'Which one of you didn’t take my father’s money?'—a high-decibel outburst that became an iconic media moment.

At the time, Chen Hsing-yu questioned whether her father’s past financial support for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates had been properly declared. She directly challenged former premier Frank Hsieh, asking, 'Didn’t Frank Hsieh receive money?' before repeating her now-famous line: 'Which DPP member didn’t take my father’s money?' The intensity and directness of her remarks quickly dominated news cycles. The footage was replayed extensively across media outlets, transforming Chen Hsing-yu—previously a non-political figure—into a nationally recognized public personality.

Media Pursuit Extended to the U.S.—Ethical Questions Linger Chen Hsing-yu’s media exposure wasn’t limited to Taiwan. In 2009, when she traveled to the United States to take a dental licensing exam, Taiwanese media followed her all the way to New York. The ethics of this aggressive reporting style have been debated for years. Earlier this year, veteran journalist Fan Ch’i-fei reflected on the incident, acknowledging that while investigating and reporting on Chen Hsing-yu wasn’t wrong, the practice of prolonged stakeouts and relentless pursuit was 'not good' and 'inefficient.' This highlights the fiercely competitive media environment in political journalism at the time.

Chen Hsing-yu has returned to the headlines—not for politics, but for her personal life. Recently, she left a one-star review on Chao Chien-ming’s clinic Google page, identifying herself as his 'former wife.' The review detailed their emotional rift and the strained relationship between their three sons and their father. She later confirmed the post was written by her, effectively announcing the divorce herself. As her nearly 25-year marriage comes to an end, Chen Hsing-yu’s journey—from the Chen family scandal and relentless media attention to her current marital breakdown—has once again become a focal point of public discussion.