[2] Chen obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in animal husbandry from National Taiwan University in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

He then obtained his doctoral degree in animal nutrition from Cornell University in the United States in 1989.

[2] In end of April 2013, during the H7N9 flu virus outbreak, Chen encouraged vendors offering live poultry slaughtering at traditional markets to sign contracts with legal slaughterhouses and change their selling practices.

[3] During an event held by the Poultry Association of the Republic of China in early May 2013, Chen said that food processing practice in Taiwan conformed with international standards, from feeding to slaughtering and shipping, and that he also guaranteed the food safety of all of the local chickens.

He himself, accompanied by Health Minister Wen-ta Chiu, ate chicken during the event to promote the sale of Taiwan poultry products.