Chen Chien-nien

Chen Chien-nien is a former Taiwanese politician.

Life and career

Born in Taitung, Chen entered politics in 1981 as Taitung councillor representing the Kuomintang. He served as Taitung magistrate from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Puyuma tribe, he is the only indigenous politician to have served as a county magistrate in Taiwan. In 2002, Chen quit the KMT to accept the cabinet-level Minister of Council of Aboriginal Affairs post in Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party administration. He resigned in 2005 due to a vote-buying charge, whilst continuing to maintain his innocence. Following a failed appeal to the Supreme Court in 2012, he was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Chen’s daughter Chen Ying (politician) is currently serving as a member of the Legislative Yuan.