He was the first person of indigenous descent to be appointed as Vice President of the Control Yuan.

[2] During his first term on the Control Yuan, Chen worked on a case involving radioactive waste disposal,[3] and led an investigation into the March 19 shooting incident, an assassination attempt on incumbent president Chen Shui-bian and vice president Annette Lu one day before the 2004 presidential election.

[10] From 2010 through at least 2012, Chen represented the Control Yuan on the inaugural Human Rights Consultative Committee, reporting to the Office of the President.

[11][12] During the 2012 presidential election, Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers suggested that the Control Yuan impeach Chen, after Next Magazine reported that Chen had visited an association formed to support Ma Ying-jeou's reelection bid.

Chen acknowledged that he had made the visit as a member of the Chinese Tempered Golf Association, but was not involved with the political support group.