Ending death penalty is a just pathBy Chien Chien-Jung 錢建榮Ten years ago, respected judge Chen Chin-Hsien (陳欽賢) delivered a keynote address at the first Asian Regional Congress on the Death Penalty in Kuala Lumpur. A younger colleague once confided in me that he too opposed the death penalty, but lacked the courage to speak out. Never underestimate your power — and never use the death penalty as a tool to ‘scare’ defendants.”I have long believed that abolition of the death penalty must ultimately be decided by leaders. In Taiwan, neither major political camp truly seeks to abolish the death penalty, yet both embrace its replacement. Abolishing the death penalty would do the same — demonstrating that Taiwan chooses human rights over repression, dignity over fear and conscience over killing.

Source: Taipei Times January 17, 2026 16:53 UTC