Written by 
Chen Shui-Bian was born at a poor family inTaiwan’s Tainan Countyin 1951.
As a student, from elementary school, to junior high school, high school, and on through the law
department ofNationalTaiwanUniversity, Chen was always ahead of his class. Naturally, he ranked highest on the national bar examination as a university junior, beginning his law practice
the following year.
As a maverick legislator, Chen once again found his way to the top, garnering accolades as.
Taiwan’s highest-rated law maker.
Always adjusting himself to suit his various roles, Chen has had a tremendous career, from a defense lawyer for the “Kaohsiung Incident” accused, toTaipei City councilman, national legislator, and Taipei City mayor.
Throughout, Chen has blazed up a distinctive trail, forging a spectacular “Taiwan Experience” of his own. Picked as one of the world’s top 100 political figures, Chen is the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate in Taiwan’s 2000 presidential election.
