This is a unpleasant discussion for sure.
I also have a young family and Chiang, a fellow father, has been holding things together for a long time.
Most times when bad things surface, people are quick to think the man is in the wrong and the women is the victim.
I personally think Chiang has been very civil about the matter since Ai's extra-marital affair surface and Ai as everyone knows, has been total silent and only handled matter to save her business and image.
I can't comment on the present, as Chiang has release what he wants the world to know in his media statements. Somehow China loves Ai and western media doesn't cover too much about this whole incident. Japanese and Taiwan netizens seem to be in support of Chiang and disguised by Ai.
But there are some facts and this isn't a gossip
1) Ai was caught with a married man, staying overnight in her house in Japan.
Ai went back to Japan for business (she started a company in Japan), Japanese media saw her going in her house with another man and they only left the next morning.
Ai denied they slept together, and that they slept in two different rooms.
Ai later went on to married this man. This man was also married at the time of the affair and had divorced to marry Ai.
Note, Ai started her young company and spent a lot of time in Japan, while Chiang and the kids was in Taiwan. The kids were still nursing at that time.
The business closed very quickly after and the house was sold. Everyone's life has turned upside down.
2) During the scandal, Ai's mom was in Taiwan all this time, living with Chiang. Ai's mom was in a wheel chair and Chiang continued to share how warm his family is on social media. ie photos of the 2 kids with Ai's mom and Chiang.
This went on for months. Ai didn't return to Taiwan during this time and blamed covid restrictions or something like that. Taiwan had a 2 week mandatory isolation and Ai didn't see that match her schedule.
3) so during this time, both toddlers had no mother. But grandma was there to fill in what the mom voided.
I have no idea how Ai's mom went through all this, since Asian, at least Japanese people have very strong values relating to this kind of matter.
People called Ai a terrible mother and daughter and sacrificed it for another man. Note, no one talked about terrible wife, but focus on the lack of responsiblity as a mother and daughter during this time since what happened between the two couple is their business, however mother and kids are innocent parties.
4) Grandma Ai left to go back to Japan, as the marriage is heading towards a divorce. Chiang, at least in the public image continued to be civil about Ai's mom staying with them. There was also photos of a send off at the airport with the Chiangs and Ai's mom. At that moment, I thought Ai's mom would go back to Japan and try and save the marriage.
5) They divorced. Ai was in Japan when this happened
Ai has been very secretive over the whole matter. Obviously she has a full PR team and strong legal team since being a famous kid.
Chiang is just another every day person and new to this "stardom"
6) Then Ai returned to Taiwan to visit the kids. Chiang kept everything secretively and didn't announce that Ai was returning. It was said that the son went back to Japan with Ai to stay for the summer, but next we know, Chiang announced that Ai has gone radio silent and he can't reach his son and the son isn't coming back apparently and Chiang turned towards a slow legal route and that is been a year or so now.
7) Chiang claimed that when Ai was in Japan all this time and both kids with him. The kids and Ai had video calls daily and continue to keep the door open between mother and kids. Chiang claimed he has not spoken to his son for a year now.
Now, i'm not sure what ugly part of this divorce has caused what has happened today, since there are always two sides to any story, but Chiang has shared family photos, while Ai's one was only leaked from Japanese paparazzi.
Ai seem to remove all Chiang's photos, while Chiang still have family photos posted on his social media.
Ai has always been famous and in the spotlight. Has all the PR manager and Agents to guide her along the way.
Chiang is very different. Chiang, could of become the next Taiwan no1, the next Chuang Chih Yuan (Lin Yunju was still a baby then)
Chiang was a kid prodigy and made the Taiwanese senior team the same age as Lin.
In fact Chiang was the record holder until Lin "tied" it. There has been a new kid now that has broken this record (leave that to another day to discuss), but Chiang could of been very famous, had he not injure himself and couldn't recover fully to the same level and slowly dropped out as a competitive athlete.
Chiang has always been good looking and tall (for Asian standards). A very mismatch (and i'm not just talking wealth) from the get go, but love does bring wonders. According to media, Ai has always dated tall guys.
End of the day, sad with how the daughter (living with Chiang) does not have a mother. And the son (living with Ai) does not have a father.
Ai has remarried. Chiang haven't. Ai is now WTT Japan General Manager.
Chiang went back to work for his "mother TT team", Taiwan Co-op Bank TT team, and does do commercials/filming on the side.
Chiang actually came and sat with our team during a tournament in April. He actually sat next to me, but I don't know him in person. He is good friends with one of the coaches in our team (his senior brother, from the same tt base).
Chiang has a lot of energy and always has a smile. I have no idea how he can be so strong amidst his personal family battle - of which he doesn't talk about in person.
I can't say who is wrong, but kids are being punished. I hope both parents can allow kids to be kids and adult up about parenthood.
