Chen to continue `political warfare'

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) abandoned yet another key DPP policy yesterday when he assured members of "political warfare" departments and personnel in the military that they would continue with their work although thought had to be given to modernizing their role.

Political-warfare units are responsible for propaganda, counter infiltration and some counter-espionage duties as well as, more controversially, the assessment and maintenance of the loyalty of servicemen.

The DPP has long championed the abolition of the political-warfare system, which has traditionally been used to indoctrinate males in Taiwan with pro-unification, pro-KMT views during their period of compulsory military service.

Some military leaders have called the political-warfare system outmoded, and it has been thought that the implementation of two defense-related laws on March 1, according to which the General Staff is to lose its autonomy and come under the control of the Ministry of National Defense, might also be used to abolish the system.

But speaking yesterday at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Taipei-based political-warfare academy, also known as Fuhsinkang college, the president said that political warfare units would remain.

"China has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan and it continues to launch propaganda warfare, infiltration, division and espionage efforts against the island," Chen said.

Because of this, political-warfare units still had an important task to perform, Chen said. But, he added, political-warfare officers had to adjust both to the changing times and the situation across the Taiwan Strait.

"At this juncture, the political-warfare system should ask itself what sort of things it can do for the country, how it can assist military operations, and how it can effectively prevent China's attempts to devour Taiwan," Chen said.

He did not, however, provide any detailed instructions as to what new tasks political-warfare units should attempt or how they should change their methodology.

He did, however, provide an assurance that the political-warfare system will not be disbanded.

Chen's stance on the issue showed a great contrast to his criticism of the political-warfare system during his terms as a lawmaker. At that time Chen criticized the system as one that should not exist since it had no legal status.

The political-warfare system has always been a controversial branch of the military since it is independent of the army, navy and air force but exists in every unit of the three services.

It enjoys great monitoring and investigative power over every unit of the three services, which makes it both feared and hated. Its powers have been exercised until now, notwithstanding the lack of any legal authority to do so. Its lack of a legal foundation and perceived anti-democratic tendencies have brought calls in recent years for the system's abolition.

Abolition has been strongly opposed by former leaders of the political-warfare system, who still have great influence over the current military leadership. The president now seems to have accepted the opinions of these former political warfare leaders.

Chen also pointed out that, under the new legislation, the political-warfare system will become a fully sanctioned legal organization.