NTU Finds Cheng Plagiarized Thesis, Revokes Degree
China Times, December 3, 2022
It was revealed that Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan of Taoyuan, a favored contender for the chairmanship of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and premier, committed plagiarism in completing his master’s thesis. Subsequently, Cheng issued a statement confirming it was indeed plagiarized and that his degree had been revoked.
People within the DPP were first concerned that Lin Chih-chien, former mayor of Hsinchu, dealt a heavy blow to the DPP in the local elections. Now, the problem is with Cheng. The party should comprehensively review the theses by public officials and apologize to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, it may cost the DPP in the 2024 presidential election.
You Chi-pin, a New Party candidate for Taoyuan City Councilor, first reported in October that Cheng’s master thesis analyzing the evolution of China’s grassroots elections and searching for the momentum of democratic development submitted to the Graduate Institute of National Development of the National Taiwan University (NTU), was suspected of plagiarism. The faculty advisor was Chen Ming-tong, who currently serves as director-general of the National Security Bureau. Chen also oversaw Lin’s thesis.
NTU stated that the Office of Academic Affairs received a signed letter on October 4, which was duly accepted in accordance with the key points handling cases involving academic ethics violations in doctoral dissertations and master theses and handed over to the College of Social Sciences for a review committee to examine. We learned that NTU sent the findings of the review by registered mail to the informant, the accused, and the Ministry of Education (MOE) on December 1.
It is understood that NTU completed the review of the Cheng's thesis before the nine-in-one election. NTU then decided to release the results after the election, in order not to affect the election and to remain non-partisan.
According to people familiar with the matter, NTU took the initiative to explain the investigation results in August, mainly because Lin’s thesis involved two students which is unique and has never happened in the past. The university did not do so in Cheng’s case of plagiarism as it involves academic plagiarism and not political action. The MOE stated that it had received a letter from NTU.
As for speculation around whether Chen, who served as faculty advisor, would ever be employed by the school, NTU stressed that the case is still under investigation and there is no result.
Chairman You Jung-hui of the Union of Private School Educators believes that the thesis scandal is the worst illustration of "political and academic thieves.” It is recommended that NTU should dismiss or not renew the contract of the supervisor and the MOE should also hold National Taiwan University accountable for inadequate oversight.
In his statement yesterday, Cheng indicated that it was not possible to carry out empirical research of his thesis due to the conditions of the time he wrote it. What he did was documentary analysis and he claimed that he did not copy any one single paper or had the motivation to commit plagiarism.
Cheng stated that he completed the draft before quoting his sources. As there were numerous reference materials and insufficient time for verification, when examining the thesis, the academic ethics committee had used the latest similarity software and found in it paragraphs that did not indicate the source. He explained at the Committee hearing that at the time of graduation, the Graduate Institute of National Development did not require similarity software comparison.
He emphasized that his thesis was original, and some of the content was not properly attributed, which was negligent in the writing process. If there was similarity comparison at that time, he would have identified the unlisted reference papers. He apologized for such defects in the academic ethics committee but there was no intention of committing plagiarism, and the finding of his thesis was original. He indicated a willingness to face the result of the review — not to appeal, but to apologize again.
Deputy Spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) stated that Cheng and his faculty advisor Chen should make clear: Are senior DPP officials plagiarists who do not even possess basic academic ethics and moral standards?
“With Lin Chih-chien gone, here comes Cheng Wen-tsan." Yang stated that the KMT respects the findings by the academic ethics committee of NTU. But that Cheng, as mayor of a special municipality, has been identified as a plagiarist is shameful in Taiwan’s history. According to Yang, Cheng should apologize not only to NTU but also to the residents of Taoyuan and people of Taiwan.
The DPP was vague in their responses to the scandal. Legislator Ker Chien-ming, whip of the DPP caucus of the Legislative Yuan, stated that he is not a political commentator but is responsible for the party’s affairs at the Legislative Yuan. "It's better to ask political commentators about such things. Let's do what we should do.”
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20221203000311-260118?chdtv