The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has formed a special task force to investigate the defection of an army officer from Taiwan to China 23 years ago, Minister of Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) said yesterday.
Fielding questions at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Defense Committee, Tang said the MND panel will also cooperate with the Control Yuan in probing the defection of Justin Lin (林義夫) in 1979 to ascertain the "historical truth."
Tang said the recent controversy over Lin's aborted plan to return to Taiwan for his father's funeral has cost the nation dearly.
"As the Republic of China's defense minister, I feel deep sorrow over the issue," he said.
Stressing that he believes Lin -- who swam to China's southeastern coast city of Xiamen from the Taiwan-held frontline island of Kinmen while he was serving in the army -- is a traitor, Tang said his action is unforgivable.
At the time, the military covered up the defection and did not issue a warrant for his arrest, instead listing Lin as missing and even offering a pension to his parents and his wife.
Commenting on independent Legislator Sisy Chen's (陳文茜) proposal that the government grant amnesty to Lin, Tang said the proposal is impractical.
"If Lin were to be pardoned, the military would have difficulty maintaining its morale and discipline," Tang said, adding that such a move would blur servicemen's "sense of the enemy."
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