IN TAIPEI
 
IF THERE'S anything predictable about former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian, it is that he is unpredictable.
 
Not that the Americans would be surprised. During his eight years as president, Chen gave the United States many nasty surprises with moves which heightened tension across the Taiwan Strait. Like the decision to hold a referendum in 2004 for instance.
 
Chen, who is now on trial for corruption and money laundering, has been dropping nasty innuendoes and outright accusations about foes and allies in recent months. 
 
One week, he would insinuate that President Ma Ying-jeou had improper relations with a DJ called Chocolate; another week, he would accuse his longtime Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) comrade Frank Hsieh of taking money from him.
 
From DPP leader Tsai Ing-wen to his predecessor as president, Lee Teng-hui, few have escaped his ire.
 
But what has proven most surprising is that, this week, it is the turn of Chen's own family to be sabotaged by the former president.
 
In the second instalment of his prison memoirs, whose contents were leaked to the media, Chen has dropped a few bombshells about his nearest and dearest.
 
His daughter, Hsin-yu, was two-timed by her former boyfriend, he revealed.

He also described his wheelchair-bound wife, Wu Shu-chen, also on trial for corruption and money laundering, as someone who is "not normal".
 
Pundits in Taiwan have been left scratching their heads over what Chen is up to.
 
Is Chen trying to portray himself as someone frank and open, with nothing to hide? Is he trying to show how fair he is, by not sparing his family the blushes? 
 
With his latest revelations, Chen has transformed from Taiwan's former No 1 official to its No 1 exposer of secrets, one newpaper remarked.
 
Regardless of whether he is found guilty eventually, Chen has sadly tarnished his former office and legacy, with his indiscreet and indecorous comments about all and sundry.