Sued over alleged government-business ties, Chang Ching-sen loses defamation case against Huang Kuo-chang

Former Executive Yuan official Chang Ching-sen has lost a NT$3 million defamation lawsuit against People First Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang.

Chang sued after Huang repeatedly suggested that Chang had maintained close ties with United Renewable Energy while promoting Taiwan’s agrivoltaics policy. Huang also implied that Chang had been involved in government tenders and business-government collusion.

Huang said whistleblower complaints and previously unpublished internal material gave him reason to believe the allegations were credible. He argued that he had made reasonable checks, acted in good faith and commented on matters open to public scrutiny.

The Taipei District Court said the remarks concerned the public interest, including a briefing on agrivoltaics policy and the legality of government contracts. After reviewing message screenshots, photographs and guest lists from United Renewable Energy events, the court found that Chang had contacted company executives to help prepare a briefing after receiving instructions from former President Tsai Ing-wen. It also noted that Chang had attended the company’s annual banquet for two consecutive years and that a relative had served as an independent director there.

The court said Huang had not actually stated that Chang arranged for Da Heng International Law Firm to win a government contract. It therefore found no unlawful infringement of Chang’s rights and dismissed the case. The ruling is subject to appeal.