TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Amid the ongoing controversies over the government's egg import program, Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung on Wednesday (Sept. 20) announced plans to return to teaching after his resignation was approved by Premier Chen Chien-jen a day earlier.
Before attending the 17th Agriculture Gold Award ceremony, Chen stressed that his decision to stay or leave had nothing to do with "the ongoing battles between the ruling and opposition parties or any so-called political issues."
As his resignation will take effect on Thursday, Chen revealed his plan to return to teaching at the National Chung Hsing University in Taichung City. Chen was a distinguished professor at the university's Department of Applied Economics before entering politics.
"I am a very simple person. I come from a farming background and have taught at a university," Chen said, "Having no political affiliations, I would not know a thing if you asked me about all the disturbances."
Chen expressed gratitude toward President Tsai Ing-wen since he was appointed deputy director of the COA in May 2016, saying: "She always respected my professional judgment, my unwavering stance, and even my decision to resign this time."
Announcing his resignation in a 2000-word social media post late Tuesday evening due to controversy over the ministry's egg import program, Chen, the first minister of the Ministry of Agriculture after being upgraded from the Council of Agriculture in August this year, was only in office for 51 days.