Chen Chien-jen

Chen Chien-jen[4] OS KSG KHS (Chinese: 陳建仁, born 6 June 1951) is a Taiwanese epidemiologist and politician who has served as the premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2023. He joined the Chen Shui-bian presidential administration in 2003 as leader of the Department of Health, serving through 2005. He later headed the National Science Council between 2006 and 2008. Chen then served as a vice president of Academia Sinica from 2011 to 2015. Later that year, Chen joined Tsai Ing-wen on the Democratic Progressive Party presidential ticket and served as Vice President of Taiwan from 2016 to 2020. Chen joined the DPP in 2022 and was appointed premier in January 2023.

For the diplomat, see Chen Chien-jen (born 1939).
In this Taiwanese name, the surname is Chen.
His Excellency
Chen Chien-jen
OS KSG KHS
陳建仁
Official portrait as vice president, 2016
31st Premier of the Republic of China[1]
Assumed office
31 January 2023
PresidentTsai Ing-wen
Vice PremierCheng Wen-tsan
Preceded bySu Tseng-chang
Vice President of the Republic of China
In office
20 May 2016 – 20 May 2020
PresidentTsai Ing-wen
Preceded byWu Den-yih
Succeeded byLai Ching-te
Vice Chairman of National Security Council
In office
20 May 2016 – 20 May 2020
ChairwomanTsai Ing-wen
Preceded byWu Den-yih
Succeeded byLai Ching-te
Vice President of Academia Sinica
In office
18 October 2011 – 16 November 2015
AS PresidentChi-Huey Wong
Preceded byAndrew H. J. Wang
Succeeded byAndrew H. J. Wang
Minister of the National Science Council
In office
25 January 2006 – 19 May 2008
PremierSu Tseng-chang
Chang Chun-hsiung
DeputyWu Tsung-tsong
Yang Hung-duen
Preceded byMaw-Kuen Wu
Succeeded byLee Lou-chuang
Minister of Health
In office
18 May 2003 – 1 February 2005
PremierYu Shyi-kun
Preceded byTwu Shiing-jer
Succeeded byWang Hsiu-hong (acting)
Hou Sheng-mao
Personal details
Born (1951-06-06) 6 June 1951
Cishan, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan (now Kaohsiung)
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party (since 2022)
SpouseLo Feng-ping (羅鳳蘋)[2][3]
Alma materNational Taiwan University
Johns Hopkins University
ProfessionEpidemiologist
AwardsOrder of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Signature
Chen Chien-jen
Traditional Chinese陳建仁

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Fu Jen Catholic University before running for the presidential election and served as Fu Jen's Robert J. Ronald Chair Professor after leaving office.[5][6][7]

Early and personal life

Chen Chien-jen was born at his family home in Cishan, Kaohsiung County, in 1951,[2] as one of eight children.[8] His father, Chen Hsin-an, served as Kaohsiung County Magistrate from 1954 to 1957.[9] Chen's mother Chen Wei Lien-chih managed a daycare.[8] Chen is married to Lo Fong-ping,[10] whose family is from Nanjing.[11]

Chen Chien-jen is a devout Catholic. Chen and his wife were invited to visit the Vatican several times by popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. He has been invested as a Knight of the Equestrian of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2010)[12] and a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (2013).[13] He served on the board of trustees of Fu Jen Catholic University.[14]

Career as researcher

Chen obtained a master's degree in public health from the National Taiwan University, and received his Sc.D in human genetics and epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in 1977 and 1982, respectively.[9][15] He began his medical career by researching hepatitis B, and helped raise awareness about vaccination for the disease in Taiwan.[9] Chen further researched on the liver cancer risk of people with hepatitis B.[16] Chen also discovered a link from arsenic to blackfoot disease.[9][17] The arsenic research lead to the revision of international health standards for arsenic exposure.[16] Between 2011 and November 2015,[18] Chen was a vice president of Academia Sinica.[19][20]

Political career

Chen served as Minister of Health from 2003 to 2005.[21][22] As health minister, he was praised for effectively managing the SARS epidemic through quarantine and screening procedures,[16] despite Taiwan's non-membership in the World Health Organization complicating the coordination of research efforts.[23] His successor Hou Sheng-mao credited Chen with reforming the National Health Insurance program.[24] Chen led the National Science Council from 2006 to 2008.[25]

Vice presidency
Chen in an interview with BBC, 2020

On 16 November 2015, Chen was confirmed as the running mate for Tsai Ing-wen in the 2016 Taiwanese presidential election[26] after media speculation earlier in the month.[27][28] During the campaign, Chen became known by the nickname Brother Da-jen (大仁哥), after a character portrayed by Chen Bolin on the romantic drama In Time with You.[29] Chen is the first Catholic vice presidential nominee in Taiwan.[30] On 16 January 2016, Tsai and Chen won the presidential election in a landslide.[31] Chen took up his post as Vice President on 20 May 2016.[32]

In March 2019, Chen announced that he would not seek a second term as vice president alongside Tsai.[33] Chen received international attention for his role in leading Taiwan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic due to his unique position as both vice president and his epidemiologist background.[34][35] Days before he stepped down from the vice presidency, Chen stated that he would return to the Academia Sinica as a research fellow and thus forgo the pension connected to his political office.[36]

Support for same-sex marriage

On May 17, 2019, the Legislative Yuan approved the same-sex marriage bill, Chen supported it by writing "The Executive Yuan has courageously assumed its responsibility, exercised its utmost wisdom and patience, and continuously communicated and coordinated with the pro and con sides in an effort to reduce social disagreements, proposing a bill that is consistent with the conclusion of the Justice's interpretation of the Constitution and responsive to the majority opinion of the referendum. In the face of the tensions between the pro and con sides, the legislators still uphold the democratic spirit of accommodating diverse opinions and complete the legislative work of the bill smoothly".[37]

Premiership
Main article: Chen Chien-jen cabinet

In December 2021, Chen applied to join the Democratic Progressive Party, and formally became a member in February 2022.[38][39] In January 2023, he rejoined the Tsai administration as premier of Taiwan, taking office on January 31.[39][40]

Honours and awards

See also

References
  1. Taiwan
  2. "Vice President Chen". Office of the President Republic of China (Taiwan). Retrieved 7 September 2019. Mr. Chen Chien-jen was born in Cishan Township, Kaohsiung County (now merged into Kaohsiung City) in 1951.{...}The Vatican has invited Mr. Chen and his wife Ms. Lo Fong-ping to visit several times, where they have been received by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
  3. Ku Chuan, Matt Yu, Elizabeth Hsu (1 January 2019). "President sings anthem at New Year's Day flag-hoisting ceremony". Focus Taiwan (in English and Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019. The president arrived at the ceremony venue at 6:20 a.m. accompanied by Chen, Chen's wife Lo Fong-ping (羅鳳蘋), Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Chu (陳菊) and Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Vice President Chen". Office of President Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2020. Mr. Chen Chien-jen was born in Cishan Township, Kaohsiung County (now merged into Kaohsiung City) in 1951.
  5. "The 18th Session of the Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
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  17. Tseng, Chin-Hsiao; Chong, Choon-Khim; Tseng, Ching-Ping; Centeno, José A. (February 2007). "Blackfoot Disease in Taiwan: Its Link with Inorganic Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water". Ambio. 36 (1): 82–84. doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[82:bditil]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 4315790. PMID 17408196. S2CID 32652175.
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