General Chen sees his career turn around

General Chen Pang-chih (陳邦治), who became head of the political warfare system on Feb. 1, has seen his career change dramatically.

Chen, 61, is the first native Taiwanese to assume this position.

Military observers didn't expect Chen to be moved into the job since he is known for a straightforward and matter-of-fact style that some see as unsuited to the position. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is seen as having been key to the appointment.

A colonel who had worked under General Chen for several years said that President Chen must have had reasons for his choice.

"General Chen might not be politically sophisticated, as some military watchers have said, but he is a man who is strongly devoted to his career. He has the ability to handle any job," the colonel said.

To those in the political warfare system, Chen is a total stranger. Few can describe what kind of a man he is.

Major-General Huang Sui-sheng (黃穗生), spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, is one example.

"We are not familiar with Chen. We must have more contact with him if we are to be able to speak about his character or ways of doing things," Huang said.

Despite this, the political warfare system did not show any sign of refusing to accept Chen.

The political warfare system has customarily been headed by generals from outside the system, mainly those with combat specialties. These leaders, though strangers to the system, have been accepted without much complaint.

General Chen has seen his career take a sharp turn.

He would have had to retire from the military in 2001 if President Chen had not asked him to stay.

He was then vice commander-in-chief of the armed forces reserve command, which is an independent service responsible mainly for the recall of reserve troops for combat training.

In that year, Chen submitted his retirement request, although he had not reached the age limit for a two-star general of 60.

Speculation was rife that Chen asked to retire because he had not received any hints from Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) that he would be promoted.

After retirement, General Chen was planning to be a manager at a natural-gas company owned by the military.

President Chen persuaded him to stay at the job and wait for a new appointment.

General Chen gave up his retirement plan and later became the commander-in-chief of the armed forces reserve command.

But he was not promoted to the rank of three-star general when he took the new position, despite this job having been filled by an official of this rank in the past. This was due to the fact that all the vacancies for three-star generals had been filled.

Chen had to head the armed forces reserve command for half a year at the rank of lieutenant-general before a three-star vacancy opened up last September.

This kind of situation has rarely been seen in the military. The delay in rank promotion became a subject of interest for the media and an issue of concern for lawmakers.

Chen, though having climbed to one of the military's top positions, saw ups and downs the likes of which most generals of his rank and age have never experienced.

Waiting to be promoted to the rank of a three-star general may have seemed long to Chen, but it wasn't enough to discourage him.

During his past two years as the chief of the armed forces reserve command, Chen tried to implement reform.