Taiwan High Court Upholds Tsai Ing-wen’s Doctorate Ruling, Rejects Conspiracy Claims

In a significant legal and political milestone, the Taiwan High Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s ruling confirming the legitimacy of former President Tsai Ing-wen’s doctoral degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This decision marks a key moment in a years-long controversy that has seen repeated public accusations and legal challenges surrounding Tsai’s academic credentials.

🔍 Background: The Origins of the Controversy

The controversy began in June 2019, when Dennis Peng (彭文正), a former political talk show host and academic, publicly questioned the authenticity of Tsai’s doctoral degree. Peng alleged in a Facebook post that Tsai never completed her dissertation, and thus should not have been awarded a doctoral degree in law from LSE in 1984.

The accusations were particularly damaging, as they emerged during Tsai’s 2020 re-election campaign, fueling conspiracy theories and misinformation across Taiwanese social media.

Peng followed up his public allegations with a declaratory legal action, claiming that Tsai’s dissertation was non-existent and asking the court to legally declare her degree invalid.

⚖️ Legal Journey: From District Court to High Court

The Taipei District Court initially dismissed Peng’s lawsuit, citing procedural grounds under Taiwan’s Code of Civil Procedure — specifically, the claim lacked standing and legal basis.

Peng appealed, and the Taiwan High Court later ruled that the district court had failed to provide sufficient explanation and should have conducted an oral hearing. This led to a retrial in December 2022.

During the retrial, Tsai’s legal team submitted evidence, including:

• The official doctoral degree certificate from LSE
• Archived copies of her dissertation
• Verification from LSE’s official records and its library

Based on this, the court reaffirmed that Tsai had indeed received her degree in 1984. Peng again appealed, leading to Tuesday’s ruling.

In its latest verdict, the Taiwan High Court ruled that there were no procedural or substantive errors in the retrial, officially closing the door on Peng’s legal challenge — though he retains the right to file a final appeal with the Supreme Court.

🚨 Criminal Proceedings Against Dennis Peng

In parallel to the civil proceedings, Peng has also been indicted for criminal libel. In 2022, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office issued an arrest warrant after Peng repeatedly failed to appear in court. Authorities later confirmed that Peng had fled to the United States, and a warrant was issued under Article 84 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The warrant remains active, and unless Peng returns to Taiwan or is extradited, the criminal charges may remain unresolved.

💬 Political Significance and Public Reaction

While the legal victory is largely symbolic now — Tsai completed her second term as president in May 2024 — the case has broader implications for:

• The credibility of Taiwan’s democratic institutions
• The spread of disinformation in political discourse
• The use of legal systems to validate facts in the era of post-truth politics

Many commentators argue that this case exemplifies how conspiracy theories can linger despite official refutation. Although Tsai’s degree had been independently verified by LSE years ago, doubt persisted in some political circles.

Taiwanese legal expert Prof. Hsiao Ming from National Taiwan University commented:

“This ruling is a win for factual accuracy and institutional trust. But it also reflects the challenges democratic societies face in defending truth in the digital age.”

📌 Key Takeaways:

• The High Court confirmed Tsai Ing-wen’s doctorate is legitimate.
• Dennis Peng’s conspiracy theories have been legally debunked.
• Peng faces criminal libel charges and an outstanding arrest warrant.
• The case reflects wider issues of disinformation in modern democracies.

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