Shih made timely insightful comments concerning the recent outcry of support for Chen, charging that the court had violated human rights in arresting the former head of state in Taiwan.

There is currently an uproar in support of the disgraced Chen, which was incited by the him to win sympathy to gain advantage in his criminal case. But, as Shih explained, ardent Chen supporters still constitute a minority, and this small number of radicals will become smaller as more findings of Chen's corruption is revealed. However, Shih also stressed that Chen supporters ought to be allowed to vent their feelings. This is not only a reflection of a democratic spirit but also something that eventually benefits the rule of the present government. Under such circumstances, President Ma faces a crucial test of leadership in getting the chaotic domestic situation under tight control.

At the same time, Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the DPP, should also find herself in a test of her ability to prevent mass demonstrations from going too far. Basically, as a decent and highly educated scholar, Tsai advocates a parliamentary line in opposition to the ruling Kuomintang (KMT). Even when she agrees that DPP people take to the streets to voice their views, it is definitely not her wish to see the kind of violence and bloodshed that occurred during DPP-sponsored protests against the visit of Chen Yunlin, chairman of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS). Hence, how current protests proceed and end will demonstrate whether Tsai is able to reform the DPP as its leader or continue to be led by partisan radicals largely as a figure head of the party.