Legislator Chen Ming-wen Loses NT$3 Million Cash on Bullet Train; Huge Sum and Startup Claims Trigger Intense Questioning

On September 3, 2019, heavyweight DPP Legislator Chen Ming-wen accidentally left a suitcase containing up to NT$3 million in cash in a carriage while taking the bullet train north. After the incident was exposed, it immediately triggered an uproar in Taiwan. Chen''s son later claimed to the public that the huge sum was "startup capital" given by his father for him to open a bubble tea shop in the Philippines. However, the public and opposition parties strongly questioned why a suitcase full of cash was used for fund transfer rather than normal bank remittance channels. This move was considered extremely unusual and against common sense, further leading to outside questioning of whether the huge sum involved money laundering, political contributions, or improper interest transfers, seriously damaging the DPP''s image of integrity.