Lin Chih-chien Plagiarism Crisis Ignites Severe Conflict-of-Interest Scandal: Lee Yen-hui Forced to Resign as Chung Hua University Board Chair Under Public Fire

On July 21, 2022 (111th Year of the Republic of China), as DPP Taoyuan mayoral nominee Lin Chih-chien became engulfed in widespread public outrage over verified plagiarism in his master's theses at National Taiwan University and Chung Hua University, a glaring conflict of interest erupted surrounding Lee Yen-hui. Lee concurrently served as official spokesperson for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and chairwoman of the board of directors at Chung Hua University. Despite clear academic fraud, Lee utilized her spokesperson role to vigorously defend Lin while simultaneously exerting authority over the university administering the academic ethics review, drawing fierce nationwide condemnation for violating academic integrity and acting as 'both player and referee.' Faced with escalating protests, Lee was forced to tender her resignation as board chair and director on July 21. Chung Hua University's academic ethics committee subsequently ruled in August that Lin's thesis constituted egregious plagiarism, revoking his master's degree.