An external committee of the Executive Yuan recently concluded an investigation indicating that Minister without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni subjected the late Dr. Yen Huai-shing, former Deputy Chief Negotiator at the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN), to an offensive work environment. Following a meeting with Yang Jen-ni, Premier Cho Jung-tai suspended her effective July 1. The Office of the President subsequently issued a presidential decree on July 1, 2026, officially dismissing her from office. The dismissal is now in effect.
Dr. Yen’s father, former Minister of Finance Yen Ching-chang, issued a statement expressing profound regret that his daughter can no longer personally detail the events under investigation. He nonetheless extended his sincere gratitude for the investigative team’s diligence and professionalism, while voicing his expectation that the Control Yuan will maintain strict impartiality in its ongoing inquiry.
Yen Ching-chang also noted that whether serving as an academic or a public official, Dr. Yen remained deeply concerned about the inadequate implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as well as the long-standing systemic flaws within the OTN. He called on the government to honor Dr. Yen’s legacy by institutionalizing her professional aspirations, asserting that this would be the only true measure of justice on her behalf.
The full text of the statement is as follows.
What is left, when honor is lost?
My daughter, Yen Huai-shing, passed away on March 12 of this year. As her parents, we never once used the word “bullying” publicly. That changed only after her resignation letter came to light in the media in March. A former colleague at the Bureau of Foreign Trade then released an audio recording, and the question of whether Huai-shing had been bullied became a matter of public concern. Premier Cho Jung-tai of the Executive Yuan moved swiftly to convene an independent task force of outside experts. The task force completed its investigation on June 26 after three months of work. We hold this investigation in the highest esteem and respect for its independence and professionalism. We were likewise gratified when the Premier suspended Yang Jen-ni from her position as Minister without Portfolio three days later.
Yet Yang Jen-ni, a senior member of the Cho Cabinet, has objected to the findings and issued a series of statements in response. As the parents of Huai-shing, the victim of bullying, we respected the investigative process. We repeatedly refrained from responding as Yang Jen-ni used the media to inflict further harm on Huai-shing and our family. After several days of quiet reflection, we can no longer tolerate statements that depart from the facts and continue to mislead the public.
First, the Executive Yuan’s investigative report makes no finding linking Huai-shing’s health to the bullying she experienced. Yet in her statement of June 26, Yang repeatedly centered her argument on Huai-shing’s medical leave. This is wholly inconsistent with her claims of having looked after a younger colleague and enjoying a friendly relationship with her. It also plainly violates the relevant provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act.
Second, the investigation’s own findings of bullying show that Huai-shing spent 18 months at the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN). During that period, she repeatedly expressed her intention to resign to Secretary-General Jau-Shieh Wu (Joseph Wu), the superior who had originally recommended her for public service. Each time, he persuaded her to stay, hoping she would endure for the sake of the nation. At the time of her appointment, Yang was upset that senior leadership had not consulted her and probed extensively to find out who had recommended Huai-shing. Huai-shing reluctantly but honestly disclosed the truth. It strains credulity that Yang’s June 26 statement claims she harbored friendly intentions to “groom a successor.” Moreover, Yang had previously lied to the media, falsely asserting that she was the one who recruited Huai-shing to the OTN. Such conduct is entirely unbecoming of a cabinet minister.
Third, as parents, we feel very disappointed that the investigation only substantiated two incidents of bullying. We remain concerned that allowing Yang to stay in her post during the inquiry may have obstructed the full truth, and it pains us that Huai-shing is no longer here to testify to the allegations that remain unverified. Nevertheless, we maintain sincere gratitude and respect for the task force’s diligence and professionalism. We hope the Control Yuan’s ongoing investigation will proceed with absolute impartiality to help restore a safe and supportive working environment for all civil servants.
Fourth, we appreciate the widespread public attention to the issues Huai-shing cared about most. Whether as a scholar or a public servant, she remained deeply troubled by the stalled progress on the CPTPP and the severe, systemic operational flaws within the OTN. Even on her sickbed, these professional concerns weighed heavily upon her. The timeline for CPTPP accession cannot simply be brushed aside with excuses about geopolitical headwinds. Moreover, the OTN’s 18-year existence as an ad hoc task force has resulted in chronic underperformance, posing a severe threat to the nation’s future economic and trade policies.
Finally, to quote Huai-shing’s former supervisor at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research: “The best way for a country to honor an outstanding civil servant is not merely through memorials or medals, but by institutionalizing her unfinished vision into national policy. It is not only about remembering the injustices she endured, but also about realizing the ideals she fought so hard to achieve.”
This is the only true measure of justice for Huai-shing.
Yen Ching-chang, July 1, 2026
