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Military seeks to monitor loyalty of retired soldiers

While the military yesterday sought to assure the public that it can rely on the loyalty of military personnel, it admitted it does not yet have the authority to check servicemen's loyalty after retirement.

It also denied reports that a recent program to downsize the military has led to forcibly retired personnel going to work in China or for China-related organizations.

Deputy Administrative Defense Minister Vice Admiral Kao Yang (高揚) said the defense ministry has drafted a law to monitor the loyalty of retired servicemen, especially those responsible for highly sensitive affairs during their periods of service.

"We are waiting for the legislature to pass the draft law. After the passage of the law, we will have the legal tools to enforce loyalty monitoring. This law will cover not only ex-servicemen who handled national secrets, but also employees of civilian companies," Kao said.

The draft law, if passed, would allow the military to monitor household registrations and travel records of retired service personnel. It would not, however, allow secret monitoring, such as wiretapping or undercover surveillance.

Kao made the remarks yesterday at a public hearing at the legislature on the topic "Who will retired servicemen be loyal to?" The hearing, organized by KMT lawmaker Liu Sheng-liang (劉盛良), was held in response to a recent report by the Chinese-language China Times that a retired lieutenant colonel had defected to China and is now working as a colonel for the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese military.

"The report is false. We have denied it several times and there is no need for me to say it again. Relevant to this issue is the political education we have undertaken in the military over the past few decades," Kao said.

"This political education teaches servicemen to abide by the Constitution and love this country, no matter which political party is in power. This stance has not changed despite the transfer of power last year," he said.

"People outside the military have recently questioned us about whom and for what servicemen are fighting. I can tell you now that the servicemen are fighting for the people of this country and for the survival of this country."

Kao also denied that the Chingshih (精實) personnel streamlining project had caused major dislocation, unemployment and espionage problems as reported by the press.

The discontent has been reported as the driving force behind decision by some retired servicemen to go to China and sell Taiwan's military secrets.

"Over the past three years, we have successfully reduced our total forces from 450,000 to 380,000," Kao said. He added, "The US military is quite surprised at our achievement. They think it amazing that Chingshih has not created major social problems, despite so many early retirements in the short period of three years," he said.
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