Military shake-up needed
In the Taipei Times editorial on Friday last week, (“Ma flops as commander-in-chief,” April 10, page 8), the writer says a review of the military and military discipline “beginning from the bottom up is not going to do any good.” I would agree. The review should start with those at the top and investigate the conduct of retired field-grade officers regarding their connections with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. If need be, the laws governing the conduct of these officers should be changed and penalties for violations greatly increased.
How is it that two field-grade officers who have admitted to spying for China can be released on bail? Does President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration think for a minute that they will not at least make an attempt to flee into the arms of a waiting China? Spying for the enemy is still treasonous activity and deserves contempt and harsh punishment.
In addition, the father of the officer under investigation for providing “tours” of a restricted-access military base is attempting to apologize for his son. Yet this man fled to China to run a petrochemical operation after retiring from the military, so one can only guess what he provided China with to achieve his goal.
The rhetoric and appeasement when dealing with China needs to stop. It is sending too many mixed messages to the armed forces. Setting high standards of conduct and enforcing strict discipline are only a start. Those who cannot or will not measure up to those standards need to be removed without regard to years of service. Preserving a retirement for someone unfit to wear the uniform is a disgrace and sends the wrong message to the lower ranks.
I agree that Taiwan needs a seasoned and tough military, but that military also needs to be representative of the population it serves. Every Taiwanese needs to feel invested in the defense of their nation, be it through active duty or reserve forces service. Doing away with conscription is a mistake, just like it was a mistake doing so in the US. Less than 10 percent of the US population has chosen to defend their nation.
To see Ma thinking the nation can rely on firepower to defend itself is worrying. Freedom is won and preserved by continued vigilance and, when needed, by force of arms, not pleasant talk and trying to mollify the aggressor.
Tom Kuleck
Taichung
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