15 Facts About Chen Chin-te

Chen Chin-te, known as Derek Chen, is a Taiwanese politician.

Chen Chin-te ended his graduate studies without earning a doctoral degree, to run in the 1991 National Assembly elections.

In 2000, Chen Chin-te helped pass laws that reduced the power of the legislative body.

Chen Chin-te formed an electoral coalition with Chen Tsiao-long, Chiu Kuo-chang, Kang Tai-shan, Liu Yi-te, and Lan Shih-tsung prior to the 2001 Legislative Yuan elections.

Shortly after taking office as a representative of Yilan County, Chen Chin-te became the first DPP official to visit China since Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen explicitly acknowledged the possibility in 2002.

Chen Chin-te began discussing legislative reform upon his return from China.

Chen Chin-te supported a Legislative Yuan with approximately 140 members, and formed an inter-party alliance to discuss the issue in May 2002, alongside fellow lawmakers Alex Tsai and Lu Hsueh-chang.

Chen Chin-te criticized a vote held on legislative membership reductions in March 2004, as rushed.

Chen Chin-te proposed a bill for that purpose in 2003.

Later that year, Chen Chin-te was tasked with announcing the party platform regarding referendums.

Chen Chin-te was reelected to the Legislative Yuan in 2004, but lost his bid for a third term in 2008 to Lin Chien-jung.

Later, Chen Chin-te served as chairman of the CPC Corporation.

Chen Chin-te resigned the position on 18 August 2017 after a widespread blackout affected the nation three days prior.

In January 2018, Chen Chin-te stated that he would not seek a full term as Yilan County magistrate.

On 16 April 2024, Chen Chin-te was appointed leader of the Public Construction Commission, again succeeding Wu Tze-cheng.