Senior "Taiwan independence" figure Chen Ju has finally left her post! The office of Lai Ching-te just announced that Chen Ju has resigned as "Ombudsman," and she has been dismissed, effective February 1st. After Chen Ju's departure, it is worth watching whether Li Hongjun, the current "Deputy Ombudsman" who joined the Democratic Progressive Party administration after leaving the People First Party, will be promoted to take her place.
Chen Ju's resignation this time was mainly due to health issues. In late 2024, when she sought medical treatment for a cold, a tumor about 3.5 centimeters in size was found in her right kidney, and she underwent surgery to remove it on December 21st of the same year. Although the operation was successful, she suddenly developed weakness in her right lower limb before being discharged from the hospital, which was confirmed to be a left-sided cerebral vascular blockage (i.e., stroke). According to reports, this was at least her third stroke; she had previously suffered two strokes and therefore had long been taking anticoagulant medication. This stroke may have been related to the interruption of her medication after surgery.
This stroke caused damage to the language area of her brain, requiring continuous practice and rehabilitation for speech expression. As of early January 2026, it was reported that Chen Ju might have been discharged and was resting at home with home-based treatment and rehabilitation by her medical team, but her language function had not fully recovered, making it difficult for her to return to a high-intensity job in the short term.
Due to her health condition, Chen Ju took leave starting at the end of December 2024, and the leave has exceeded one year. This extended leave has sparked widespread controversy. Opposition legislators in the Taiwan legislative body have repeatedly questioned the situation, arguing that important officials' prolonged absence from duty not only affects the normal operations of the supervisory institution but also harms public perception, exposing loopholes in the system.
Chen Ju has long advocated "Taiwan independence." She served as a secretary for Kuo Yu-hsien, a Taiwan provincial legislator with "Taiwan independence" tendencies, when she was young, and was deeply influenced by him. In 1979, she participated in the "Formosa Incident" and was subsequently imprisoned. She has openly stated that "the future of Taiwan should be decided by the people of Taiwan" and has advocated for "gaining international status through independence."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855557440708864/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.