Contentious armed forces laws stalled in legislature

With the help of these lawmakers -- who represent all three major political parties -- the implementation of the the two laws have been effectively blocked through filibustering and the creation of resolutions which are considered to be unattainable.

For example, on May 17 the legislature's defense committee adopted the following resolutions: 1) the candidate for the planned armament bureau's directorship should be appointed within three months, and 2) a team comprised of civil scholars, military officials and lawmakers should be set up to assess the enforcement of the two laws.

Due to these various difficulties, chances for the passage of the supplementary regulations before the end of the current legislative session are negligible.

Still, the supplementary regulations won't likely pass any time soon.

"The military is still bent on creating an agency authorized by the new laws -- the reserve mobilization command.

"The new agency will have an unlicensed structure," said a legislative aide to DPP lawmaker and defense committee member Liang Mu-yang (梁牧養). "It will make the military a laughing stock if the public knows it has established [this agency] without any support of law."

However, the military seems to have no other choice but to establish the agency before the supporting laws become effective.