Chen Hsing-yu seeks education funds for son, drawing sharp criticism from Peggy Chen

Peggy Chen has inserted herself into the public dispute surrounding Chen Hsing-yu’s divorce, accusing the media of treating a family argument over children’s education funds as a major national issue while ignoring her own family’s troubles.

Chen Hsing-yu, the daughter of former president Chen Shui-bian, has sought NT$23 million in education funds for her son from her former husband, Chao Chien-ming. Peggy Chen, the wife of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je, said the dispute received extensive coverage while her attempts to recover money from the enforcement authorities attracted little attention.

In a Facebook post, Peggy Chen called Taiwan a “distorted society.” She said assets connected to her and Ko had been compulsorily seized, including medical insurance for their three children. She questioned why the authorities needed to take such forceful action over policies that represented parents’ care and protection for their children.

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People can simply use a shrewish public tirade to enlist the media in collecting a debt, and succeed so completely.

Peggy Chen also criticized the public response to Chen Hsing-yu’s media appearances. Referring to the strong language Chen used in an interview, she wrote, “People can simply use a shrewish public tirade to enlist the media in collecting a debt, and succeed so completely.” She added, “When it comes to swearing, I am no less capable.”

She said recent events had given her the courage to go to the enforcement office herself. According to her account, she took a bus there and argued until after 5 p.m., but received no media support and was caught in heavy rain on her way out.

Taipei’s enforcement branch responded that the order had legally seized Ko Wen-je’s monetary claim against an insurance company because he stood as guarantor. It said the action did not directly seize the children’s insurance protection, and that some policies meeting legal conditions were outside the scope of seizure.

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When it comes to swearing, I am no less capable.