Taiwan Trade Representative Accused of Workplace Bullying by Cabinet Investigation

Taipei: An investigative committee established by the Cabinet has determined that Taiwan's trade representative, Yang Jen-ni, engaged in workplace bullying of her late deputy, Yen Huai-shing. According to Focus Taiwan, the probe, which included one Cabinet member and four external members, revealed that Yang consistently used her position and authority to interrupt Yen's remarks and dismiss her opinions. This behavior created an offensive and unfriendly work environment, placing Yen under significant mental pressure. The investigation further found that Yang frequently used offensive language to reprimand colleagues at the Office of Trade Negotiations and often completed their sentences. The committee concluded that Yang's conduct exceeded reasonable management boundaries, thereby constituting workplace bullying. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee stated that Premier Cho Jung-tai is expected to decide as early as next week whether the report's findings justify Yang's dismissal from her position. Yen Huai-s hing, who was an associate research fellow at the semi-official Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, passed away on March 12 at the age of 53, shortly after resigning from her role. In her resignation letter, Yen expressed that her proposals concerning Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as a systematic overhaul of the office, were consistently ignored. Media reports subsequently linked Yen's resignation, officially attributed to health issues, to bullying by Yang. The investigation relied on surveys and interviews with Yen's colleagues, along with correspondence retrieved from Yen's cellphone, as stated by Executive Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Lee Guo-shin.