Press Conference on "Submitting 12,506 Petition Signatures for the Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing Case to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, Demanding Accountability!" ~ "Indict Ch'en Chao-min, Seek Compensation for Wrongful Execution!" Campaign Series (Part 6)
Last edited: 2026-07-27
Although Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing has been cleared of wrongdoing, his name has yet to be fully vindicated. We demand that the state courageously confront its own mistakes and pursue the criminal and civil liabilities of unlawful and derelict military officers such as Ch'en Chao-min. Our statement and demands are as follows:
"Indict Ch'en Chao-min and others! Seek compensation for wrongful execution!"
"State accountability! We care!"
Yesterday (the 17th), the Legislative Yuan demanded that the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Justice give a special report on the "administrative and judicial" accountability and the execution of "seeking compensation for wrongful execution" regarding the wrongful execution case of Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing. Although outsiders questioned whether the measures were too lenient, the Ministry of National Defense deemed that the administrative penalties had already been executed and promised to subsequently establish a memorial site for Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing and include the Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing case in human rights teaching materials.
Regarding the claim for wrongful execution compensation, legislators questioned whether "the trial lawyers lacked experience and litigation preparations were solid." The Ministry of National Defense also promised to hire external lawyers to strengthen its legal team. As for criminal liability, the Ministry of Justice completely shirked responsibility, arguing that it involved individual cases and could not be reviewed comprehensively, and even sidestepped questions regarding whether it would consider including the Chiang case in rule-of-law education materials.
Facts once again prove that only through public concern, media attention, and oversight will the state strive for "accountability." The 12,506 petition signatures did not come easily; they show that everyone cares about state justice and that all hope Taiwan is a great nation. The starting point for pursuing justice begins with clarifying and pursuing the criminal liability of personnel who broke the law and neglected their duties.
A small selection of comments is excerpted below:
- I hope the Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing case can regain attention rather than being forgotten by the world after the judicial verdict. Some things need to be remembered by us.
- What happens in society is closely connected to every single one of us. We will never turn a blind eye to anyone in society being treated unreasonably, because turning a blind eye will condone society moving toward apathy and hegemony. Taiwan still has much room for progress, and our fellow citizens must mobilize collectively! Besides a pair of bowls and chopsticks to live, another indispensable thing is human rights!
- What we must care about is that every mistake should be the driving force for the next improvement, and mistakes must never simply be allowed to blow away in the wind. Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing is already dead; whether to prosecute or not, guilty or not, can no longer compensate for his life. However, his sacrifice should not only earn a few non-prosecution disposition documents lacking legal basis! Our prosecutors' offices, even if you believe those officials have any grounds for non-prosecution, please carefully review and judge based on current laws, rather than pre-judging and finding reasons for the main text!
- Today it is Su Chien-ho and Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing; tomorrow could it be you? The government is the only group that can legally use violence. The people must have this realization and never relax their supervision of the government to possibly prevent the continuous recurrence of abuses of power, abuses of violence, and the trivialization of human life.
- Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing represents an ordinary, law-abiding citizen, no different from most of us. Supporting the case of Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing's wrongful death is actually defending the universal values of fairness, justice, and human rights, because such a case might happen to you or me next time.........
- Silence only connives and abets evil. Today it's Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing; tomorrow it could be you, me, or our children...
- I am 21 years old this year, and Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing, who was deemed involved in the case at the time, was also 21 when he was executed by firing squad. Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing died a wrongful death, and I care. Please face the voice of the people squarely, do the right thing, and do what should be done. I know no one wants to make mistakes, but since a mistake was made, once is enough; do not repeat it over and over. Perhaps the petition signatures seem trivial to you, but I want to let you know that I care, and we care. Do not think that people will forget as time passes; even if memories fade, the pain remains.
- Although I do not know you, flawed systems must be seen.
- I care. If such a voice still cannot awaken the government and the judiciary to attach importance to this matter and re-examine how it is handled, the voice of the people will definitely grow loud enough for those who need to hear it to hear!
- Whenever I hear related news, I still feel quite indignant and aggrieved. Even though I understand my personal insignificance, I still want to express this care. Because such a tragedy happened to Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing today, it may still happen to other families and other people in the future. To avoid or even eradicate similar events from happening again and causing regrets, those operating within this system must be made to understand the severity of the incident, take it as a warning, and act with greater caution. Petitioning is actually for reminding and expecting.
Today, we delivered the petition signed by 12,506 individuals to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. Like these 12,506 people, countless others hope that the High Prosecutors Office will continue to uphold justice by revoking and remanding the Taipei District Prosecutors Office's non-prosecution disposition against Ch'en Chao-min and others, and by continuing to clarify and pursue their criminal liability! We expect the High Prosecutors Office to uphold its consistent legal interpretations and once again administer justice for "state accountability"!
Press Contact
Attorney Lin Feng-cheng 02-2523-1178
Reading Statement by Student Volunteer (Tsai Tun-ch'un)
Hello everyone:
I am today's volunteer representative, Tsai Tun-ch'un. I participated in the Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing case "Ten Thousand Signatures, Demanding Accountability" campaign. Like all 12,506 people who participated in the petition, I care deeply about state justice and hope that Taiwan is a great nation.
Putting myself in their shoes, my heart aches that Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing passed away at my age, and it aches even more for Mother Chiang's experience. Mother Chiang can no longer look forward to her son returning safely from military service like other parents can; she can only look forward to justice. The starting point for pursuing justice should begin with clarifying and pursuing the criminal liability of personnel who broke the law and neglected their duties. Therefore, our [demands] are:
"Indict Ch'en Chao-min, seek compensation for wrongful execution" (Repeat once)
"State accountability, we care" (Repeat once)
Next, we are about to enter the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office to submit our petition signatures, and we hope the above humble requests will be fulfilled as soon as possible. Finally, thank you once again to everyone who cares about the Chiang Kuo-Ch'ing case. What this case needs most is everyone's continuous attention. Thank you all again.
This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Chinese text. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.