Chen Shui-bian: From Son of Taiwan to Scourge of Taiwan

Chen Shui-bian: From Son of Taiwan to Scourge of Taiwan
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
February 4, 2009

On September 27, 2001, Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian, stood on a red carpet, holding daughter Chen Hsing-yu's hand. He turned to his new son-in-law Chao Chien-ming and joked, "I am peacefully transferring my daughter to you. But will peace prevail in this marriage?" On June 27, 2007, as a result of Chao Chien-ming's involvement in the Taiwan Development Corporation scandal, Chen Hsing-yu denounced her father-in-law, saying "Someone of his ilk is better off dead!" This shocking remark from a daughter-in-law gave the outside world a glimpse into the turmoil brewing within the First Family.

This exclusive wedding banquet, one year into President Chen Shui-bian's first term, was his first report card, and revealed the extent of collusion between government and business interests within his administration. The heads of all five branches of government were present. So was Taiwan's most powerful family, the Koo family, including the late Koo Chen-fu and his wife, CITIC Group chairman Jeffrey Koo and his wife; Fubon Financial Holding chairman Tsai Min-chung and his wife; future High Speed Rail chairman Nita Ing; Taishin Financial Holding Co. chairman Wu-liang and his wife; Sheraton Hotel chairman Tsai Chen-yang and his wife; former China Development Corporation General Manager Wu Ting-wu; Taiwan Mobile chairman Sun Tao-chung, future Mega Holdings Chairman Cheng Shen-chi. President Lee Teng-hui, who seldom made public speeches at weddings, said Chen Shui-bian "genuinely loves Taiwan."

On June 18, 2005, another wedding jumpstarted Chen Shui-bian's money-laundering operations. Although Chen claimed that his son Chen Chih-chung and daughter-in-law Huang Jui-ching would not accept either wedding presents or gifts of cash, the very same political and business elites were in attendance. Hundreds of millions in tribute were presented to the couple. They even received a Tiffany diamond ring, which led to a succession of aftershocks. By then Chen Shui-bian was well into his second term. All taboos had been lifted. Riches and power were his for the taking. His son and daughter were married. Publicly and privately, the Chen family business was flourishing. But behind the facade of domestic tranquility and prosperity was the ugly face of insatiable greed, quietly sowing the seeds for future disaster, when it would be every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.

On August 24, 2008, Chen Chih-chung and Huang Jui-ching still insisted they knew nothing about the money-laundering scandal. They insisted they were merely the heads of dummy accounts, that they were "merely following orders." Five months later, outside accomplices in the money-laundering case pleaded guilty one after the other. Realizing the jig was up, this young couple pled guilty as well, offered a public apology, and expressed a willingness to return 1.8 billion NT in overseas funds. Although many people doubt the amount of money the Chen family has laundered stops there, this was the first time a member of the Chen Shui-bian family explicitly admitted the Chen family had squirreled away assets throughout the world. The confession sent shockwaves through the nation. Huang Jui-ching told the media she was worried. If she and her husband were imprisoned, what would happen to their daughter? For the sake of their children, Huang Jui-ching pleaded guilty, and asked her mother-in-law for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, the only member of the Chen family not barred from leaving the country as a result of the money-laundering case was Chen Hsing-yu. In early February 2009, she went to New York to take an exam. Whether the purpose of the exam was advanced studies or preparation for professional practice in the United States, leaving the country now appeared to be the only choice for Chen Hsing-yu, who has had her fill of the Chen family corruption and money-laundering scandal. The stakes in the case have rapidly escalated. The sum of money laundered has rapidly increased. Chen Shui-bian and Wu Shu-chen have begun cutting ties to their partners in crime. Former political comrades and business tycoons have chosen to break off relations with Chen Shui-bian. We have now arrived at the final layer. Their own children and their own legal defense team.

Chen Shui-bian, writing from within in the detention center, has long maintained that he is a martyr, heroically bearing Taiwan's cross. He maintains he has been grievously wronged, and has unfulfilled political ambitions. Outside the detention center, people close to Chen and distant from Chen are actively or passively deserting Chen Shui-bian's little kingdom. When asked about Chen Shui-bian's dream of directing the DPP's upcoming election campaign, comrades hem and haw, saying "Thank you for asking." They can no longer even be termed "comrades." After all, Chen Shui-bian has already resigned from the party. One day key members of this kleptocracy will have to account for their behavior. The public may well boo and hiss as these once powerful players scramble to point fingers at each other, in the hope of saving themselves. The public may well note that in the end, these players could not fool all of the people all of the time. The truth would eventually come out. When their complicity was exposed, the dark side of human nature would prevail. When push came to shove, even the sons and daughters of the Chen family would give priority to their own interests.

At the zenith of his power, political superstar Chen Shui-bian radiated blinding charisma, causing those whom he favored to ignore right and wrong, and shamelessly cover for the Chen crime family's mind-boggling greed. When special interests uniformly tilted toward the Chen Shui-bian crime family, they assumed their good fortune would stretch into eternity, and their glory would endure forever. Their dream lasted eight years. The Chen dynasty now faces Huang Jui-ching's defection. Former comrades now maintain a safe distance. The Son of Taiwan has become the Scourge of Taiwan. Who knew it would come to this? The Rise and Fall of Chen Shui-bian has become Taiwan's most sobering morality tale. There is no such thing a party that goes on forever. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Whether riches or power, it's easy come, easy go. Squander them and one day the bill will come due. Wealth squandered may sometimes be recouped. But friendships lost can seldom be regained.

中國時報 　
2009.02.04
台灣之子竟變瘟神 孰令致之？
中時社論

二○○一年九月二十七日，當時擔任中華民國總統的陳水扁牽著女兒陳幸妤的手走上紅毯，他幽默地對趙建銘說，女兒從此和平移轉給你；但和平是否真的降臨到了這個婚姻？二○○七年六月二十七日，陳幸妤因為趙建銘涉入台開案，飆罵公公趙玉柱「那種人去死算了啦。」驚世媳婦讓人看見了第一家族內的雲詭波譎。

但這場冠蓋雲集的婚宴確實是剛擔任總統一年多的陳水扁政商關係的第一次大校閱，除了五院院長全都到場之外，台灣第一大家族、已故的辜振甫與夫人，中信集團辜濂松與夫人，富邦金控董事長蔡明忠夫婦，後來擔任高鐵董事長的殷琪、台新金控董事長吳東亮夫婦，還有喜來登蔡辰洋夫婦，前中華開發總經理胡定吾，以及當時的台灣大哥大董事長孫道存，後來擔任兆豐金董事長的鄭深池等人都到場；鮮少為婚禮公開講話的前總統李登輝更在婚禮上讚美陳水扁是「真心愛台灣」。

二○○五年六月十八日，另一場婚禮更啟動了陳水扁的洗錢行動引擎。儘管陳水扁聲稱兒子陳致中與黃睿靚的婚禮不收禮金，但同樣匯聚了台灣政商名流的這場婚禮，前前後後卻有好幾億的資金在其中閃閃發亮，還有一個著名的Tiffany鑽戒惹來遺緒連連。彼時，已進入第二任的陳水扁百無禁忌，集金錢與權力於一身，兒女都已成婚，於公於私，陳家家業興盛。然而家和萬事興的背後，永無止境的貪婪卻悄悄埋下日後大難來時只能各自分飛的伏筆。

二○○八年八月二十四日還說自己對洗錢案什麼都不知道，只是被支配的人頭的陳致中與黃睿靚，五個月後，或許自知「大勢已去」，在洗錢案扁家之外的相關人士一一承認罪行後，這對年輕夫婦也選擇了認罪，公開向大眾道歉，並表示願意繳回十八億元；儘管很多人認為扁家洗錢數額絕不止於此，但這是陳水扁家第一次有人如此明確地指出了扁家藏匿各處的資金，在引發大震撼的同時，很多人都注意到了黃睿靚在接受媒體訪問時說，她很擔心如果夫妻倆都入獄的話，女兒將來怎麼辦？為了孩子，黃睿靚認罪，並且請求婆婆原諒。

另一方面，扁家唯一未因洗錢案被限制出境的陳幸妤，二○○九年二月初，一個人赴紐約考試，不論這個考試是為了繼續深造還是尋求在美國執業的機會，「離開」似乎是飽受扁案轟擊的陳幸妤不得不做的一個選擇；事實上，隨著案情的不斷升高、洗錢金額的愈滾愈大，陳水扁和吳淑珍就開始面對各路人馬的「切割」，從昔日政治夥伴到財團金主，人們選擇離開陳水扁；終於來到了最核心的一層：自己的兒女，以及一同打司法硬仗的律師群。

在看守所裡奮筆疾書的陳水扁始終認為自己是為台灣揹上了十字架，他既有說不完的冤屈，也有不能忘懷的政治抱負；看守所外，無論遠近親疏，一個一個地，不論是主動還是被動，他們走出了陳水扁所建構的王國，對於陳水扁仍意欲指揮選舉，同志們只能尷尬無奈地淡淡回一句：「謝謝關心。」如今，他們連「同黨」都談不上了，因為陳水扁已經退黨；有朝一日，當昔日錢權大帝國的要角們對簿公堂時，為求自保的針鋒相對，或許會讓人們唏噓感嘆於他們過往曾經的「親愛精誠」，感嘆於隻手終究不能遮天，隱藏的事總有一天要顯明，並且，當惡行顯明時，人情冷暖也不能不豬羊變色；這是人性，更是相關當事人再一次斟酌利益後的抉擇，就連扁家兒女也要為自己的將來打算。

政治舞台上的超級巨星陳水扁曾在權力峰頂輻射魅惑人心的光芒，趨炎附勢者不顧是非、寡廉鮮恥地為扁家貪腐王國挑磚砌牆；高牆內是陳水扁不可思議的貪婪掠奪。當一切資源不斷往陳水扁貪腐集團靠攏、集中的時候，他們或許以為這樣的幸福可以不斷綿延，這樣的風光可以永遠上演。然而，走過夢幻八年，扁家王朝此刻面對的是黃睿靚口中的家庭分崩離析，是昔日同志的保持距離以策安全──台灣之子竟然變成瘟神，孰令致之？陳水扁的大起大落，成為台灣最寫實也最現實的一則寓言：天下沒有不散的筵席，更沒白吃的午餐，金錢和權力怎麼來就怎麼去，你揮霍它們，有一天，它們就回過頭來消耗你；千金散盡或可復來，人情淡散消退，卻是萬古難消之愁啊。