Chen Ou-po

Chen Ou-po (Chinese: 陳歐珀; pinyin: Chén Ōupò; born 12 October 1962) is a Taiwanese politician. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, he has served in the Legislative Yuan since 2012, representing Yilan County.

Chen Ou-po MLY
陳歐珀
Chen in 2013
Member of the Legislative Yuan
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2012
Preceded by	Lin Chien-jung
Constituency	Yilan County
Personal details
Born	12 October 1962 Yilan County, Taiwan
Nationality	Taiwanese
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party
Alma mater	National Chung Hsing University

Education

Chen graduated from National Yilan Senior High School, then earned a bachelor's and master's degree from National Chung Hsing University. He started doctoral work in environmental engineering at National Taiwan University.[1][2]

Political career

Chen was first elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2012. Soon after taking office, he proposed that the legislature move to Dazhi, in Zhongshan District, Taipei.[3] In 2014, he went to the funeral of Chin Hou-hsiu, President Ma Ying-jeou's mother, despite not receiving an invitation.[4] He later apologized.[5] The Democratic Progressive Party legislative caucus barred him from party activities within the legislature for six months.[6] Additionally, he was referred to the legislature's discipline committee.[7] Business magnate Terry Gou offered to fund a recall campaign against Chen.[8]

The Democratic Progressive Party endorsed Chen for a second term in 2015, which he won.[9][10] Chen contested a September 2016 internal election for secretary-general of the DPP caucus, losing to Liu Shih-fang.[11] He was elected convener of the transportation committee in February 2017, alongside Cheng Pao-ching.[12] By 2017, Chen was considered a potential candidate for the magistracy of Yilan County.[13] However, after Lin Tsung-hsien and Wu Tze-cheng joined the Executive Yuan, the Democratic Progressive Party named Chen Chin-te acting county magistrate.[14] Chen Chin-te declined to run in the 2018 local election, and Chen Ou-po registered for the party primary in January 2018.[15] Hsieh Tsan-hui and Chiang Yung-ho also registered for the magisterial primary,[16] but dropped out a week later.[17] The Democratic Progressive Party formally nominated Chen Ou-po as its candidate for the Yilan County magistracy in March.[18] Lin Tsung-hsien and Chen Chin-te, among others, aided Chen Ou-po's campaign.[19] Following his loss to Lin Zi-miao,[20] Chen remained a sitting legislator, and ran for reelection from Yilan County in the 2020 legislative elections.[21]

Electoral history

2016 Yilan County legislative election

2016 Legislative election[22]
	Elected			Runner-up
Incumbent	Candidate	Party	Votes (%)	Candidate	Party	Votes (%)
DPP Chen Ou-po	Chen Ou-po	DPP	53.68%	Li Zhiyong	Kuomintang	28.25%

2018 Yilan County magistrate election

2018 Democratic Progressive Party Yilan County magistrate primary results
Candidates	Place	Result
Chen Ou-po	Nominated	Walkover

2018 Yilan County mayoral results[23]
No.	Candidate	Party	Votes	Percentage
1	Lin Hsin-hua (林信華)	Independent	27,399	10.95%
2	Lin Zi-miao	Kuomintang	123,767	49.48%
3	Chen Ou-po	Democratic Progressive Party	95,609	38.23%
4	Lin Jin-kun (林錦坤)	Independent	1,922	0.77%
5	Chen Qiu-jing (陳秋境)	Independent	1,424	0.57%
Total voters			373,510
Valid votes			250,121
Invalid votes
Voter turnout			66.97%

Political stances

Chen objected to the use of ractopamine in beef.[24] To help track the addition of additives, he proposed bills mandating labels on meat products and has sought to strengthen food safety regulations at the local level.[25][26]

Commenting on the workforce in 2012, Chen advocated for the government to raise unemployment benefits and employment subsidies.[27] Additionally, he repeatedly drew attention to the rising costs of utilities.[28][29][30] Chen opposed the implementation of supplementary national health insurance premiums in October 2012, stating that premiums should either be paid based on household income or the standard premiums should increase.[31] During his first legislative term, Chen continually opposed the rising tolls charged for the use of freeways, remarking that the increases were especially harmful to his Yilan constituency.[32][33][34][35] He continued to advocate for improvements to infrastructure serving Yilan throughout his second term,[36][37][38] specifically proposing that traffic congestion in Hsuehshan Tunnel be investigated,[39] and that a railway leading to Yilan parallel to the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway be built.[40] Chen and Lee Kun-tse suggested in March 2017 that an agency be established to probe road incidents.[41]

He supported the use of nuclear power conditionally, if first approved via referendum.[42][43][44] However, in his view, the government remains unable to develop adequate disaster response procedures and waste treatment measures.[45] In April 2014, he and Lin Yi-hsiung protested the scheduled activation of the Longmen Nuclear Power Plant by beginning a hunger strike, during which Chen passed out, necessitating medical treatment.[46] Chen and Tien Chiu-chin attended the National Energy Conference in January 2015 and led a group of 200 protestors.[47] Later that year, Chen suggested that Taiwan's nuclear waste be stored in the United States.[48] In August 2017, Chen stated that Taiwan should invest more in geothermal energy,[49] three years after hosting a public hearing on the topic.[50]

Regarding Cross-Strait relations, Chen denounced one country, two systems shortly after taking office.[51] He also called attention to China's economic influence on Taiwanese media.[52] In December 2012, Chen criticized Ma Ying-jeou for allowing more Chinese agricultural imports.[53] The next year, Chen chastised several government officials for their inaction as China announced a new air defense identification zone without notifying Taipei.[54]

Chen supported negotiations with Japan in the Senkaku Islands dispute to maintain Taiwanese fishing rights in the area.[55]

Chen said in September 2013, "It's up to the people of Taiwan to save this country. We should stand up with our determined voice to let the world know that Taiwan belongs in the UN."[56]

References

1. "Chen Ou-po (9)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
2. "Chen Ou-po (8)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
3. Wang, Chris (29 June 2012). "Lawmaker urges legislature to move". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
4. Wang, Chris (6 May 2014). "DPP reprimands Legislator Chen Ou-po over outburst at Ma family funeral". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
5. Wang, Chris (8 May 2014). "DPP legislator says sorry for crashing Ma's mom's funeral". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
6. Wang, Chris (10 May 2014). "DPP caucus penalizes Chen Ou-po". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
7. Hsiao, Alison (14 May 2014). "Procedural row stalls referral of acts". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
8. Cho, Yi-chun (7 May 2014). "Terry Gou targets DPP lawmaker". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
9. Loa, Iok-sin (16 November 2015). "Tsai decries comparison of cross-strait ties with Paris". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
10. Su, Fang-ho; Chuang, Meng-hsuan; Lin, Liang-sheng (2 February 2016). "New lawmakers walk red carpet for new session". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
11. Chen, Wei-han (13 September 2016). "Wu retains DPP position, Liu new secretary-general". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
12. Chen, Wei-han (24 February 2017). "DPP lawmakers win key convener seats". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
13. Chen, Wei-han (7 February 2017). "DPP might face uphill election battle". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
14. Chin, Jonathan (24 October 2017). "DPP eyes CPC chair for Yilan County commissioner, 'China Times' reports". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
15. Chen, Wei-han (16 January 2018). "DPP registers candidates for four local primaries". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
16. Su, Fang-ho (21 January 2018). "15 DPP candidates vie in primaries for party nominations". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
17. Chung, Jake (1 February 2018). "DPP Yilan County hopefuls give way to Chen Ou-po". Taipei Times. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
18. Lin, Ching-lun; Hetherington, William (15 March 2018). "DPP names Chen Ou-po Yilan County candidate". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
19. Yang, Chun-hui (8 October 2018). "ELECTIONS: DPP plans to address weak areas". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
20. Wang, Yi-ru; Ko, Lin (24 November 2018). "Kuomintang takes Yilan in county magistrate race". Central News Agency. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
21. Shen, Worthy; Low, Y.F. (9 January 2020). "2020 ELECTIONS / Don't doubt your choice: Tsai urges supporters". Central News Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
22. "中選會選舉資料庫網站". db.cec.gov.tw. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. Wang, Chris; Mo, Yan-chih (24 February 2012). "Pan-green lawmakers may boycott premier's speech". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
25. "Leanness-enhancer bills face review". Taipei Times. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
26. Wang, Chris (13 March 2012). "DPP's officials line up against ractopamine". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
27. "Government must act on inflation, lawmakers say". Taipei Times. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
28. Wang, Chris (11 April 2012). "Academics, firms debate hikes". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
29. Shih, Hsiu-chuan (14 April 2012). "KMT votes down challenge to power charge increase". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
30. Wang, Chris (4 September 2012). "Lawmakers say electricity hikes should be frozen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
31. Wang, Chris (4 October 2012). "DPP dismisses new health system levy, suggests alternative". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
32. Shan, Shelley; Wang, Chris (9 October 2012). "Freeway policy draws criticism". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
33. Shan, Shelley (18 March 2013). "Bureau slams proposal to downgrade Freeway No. 5". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
34. Shan, Shelley (2 May 2013). "Motorists face higher toll with new proposed rates". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
35. Shan, Shelley (14 December 2013). "Freeway policy draws ire of Yilan residents". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
36. Shan, Shelley (23 May 2017). "Shortening of toll-free hours on freeways lambasted". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
37. Cheng, Wei-chi; Hetherington, William (13 December 2016). "No promise on toll-free expiry: Hochen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
38. Shan, Shelley (23 March 2017). "Lawmakers plea for infrastructure". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
39. Lin, Ching-lun; Chung, Jake (28 June 2017). "Hsuehshan Tunnel needs reversible lanes: councilor". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
40. Shan, Shelley (28 March 2017). "Yilan railway still a possibility". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
41. Shan, Shelley (2 March 2017). "Committee seeks agency to probe road accidents". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
42. Wang, Chris (23 February 2013). "Ma should learn from Chiang: DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
43. You, Ming-chin; Chung, Jake (16 June 2013). "Allow Yilan nuclear referendum: group". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
44. Wang, Chris; Lee, I-chia (13 April 2013). "Ma broke pledge on nuclear safety, lawmakers say". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
45. Lee, I-chia (12 March 2014). "Activists push for local nuclear polls". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
46. Hsiao, Alison (26 April 2014). "NUCLEAR POWER DEBATE: KMT touts Gongliao 'refrigeration'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
47. Lin, Sean (27 January 2015). "Ma supports reducing nuclear power". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
48. Chen, Wei-han (4 September 2015). "Nuclear plant review held". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
49. Shan, Shelley (23 August 2017). "DPP lawmaker pushes for geothermal power". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
50. Lee, I-chia (12 June 2014). "Academics tout geothermal energy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
51. Wang, Chris (24 March 2012). "DPP, TSU pan 'one country, two areas'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
52. Wang, Chris (24 April 2012). "China has sway over media: DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
53. Chen, Ching-min; Pan, Jason (14 December 2012). "DPP slams Ma for approving more imports". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
54. Lo, Tien-pin; Chung, Jake (3 December 2013). "Legislators chastise no-show NSC boss". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
55. Wang, Chris (13 July 2012). "Ma's Diaoyutai Islands stance wrong: DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
56. Pan, Jason (12 September 2013). "MA-WANG SHOWDOWN: Delegation seeking to highlight 'Taiwan's Watergate'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

External links

• Chen Ou-po on Facebook