In the 1980s and 1990s, she starred in many popular TV series and films including Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet (1993).

Chin was elected into the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in December 2001, and re-elected in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020, all in the Highland Aborigines electoral district.

Representing the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, she is currently the party's only member in the Legislative Yuan, where she is an advocate of aboriginal rights and is associated with the Pan-Blue Coalition.

Since entering the Legislative Yuan after elected in the 2001 Republic of China legislative election, Chin has been noted for her outspoken views, traditional Atayal costume and face paint in the shape of traditional Atayal tattoo work reserved for married women.

She was once in a relationship with Hong Kong actor Kenny Ho whom she first met on the set of the Taiwanese drama Endless Love in 1989.