A naval captain that National Security Council Secretary-General Kang Ning-hsiang (
Captain Huang Tsai-tien (黃再添), who works as Kang's secretary, does not meet the qualifications for the rank of rear admiral because he has not completed the required courses at National Defense University, deputy administrative defense minister Lieutenant General Chen Ti-tuan (陳體端) said.
Chen said he did not know whether Huang was on the list of recommended candidates for promotion to rear admiral, or its equivalent of major general, that will be announced on July 1. According to military regulations Huang should not be on the list.
Chen made the remarks yesterday at a meeting of the legislature's National Defense Committee in response to inquiries from an opposition lawmaker.
Kang has reportedly pressed for the promotion for Huang, who served as his office chief when Kang was vice defense minister. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has reportedly agreed to the arrangement.
A defense official, who did not want to be named, said Huang and Kang were involved in the investigation of the murder of Captain Yin Ching-feng (尹清楓) and the scandal regarding the purchase of Lafayette frigates from France.
"According to military regulations, Huang is of course not qualified for promotion to rear admiral. But he has now been transferred to the national security system, which has its own set of operations," the official said.
"Council Secretary-General Kang has the authority to recommend the promotion for Huang. But the decision is in the hands of the ministry," he said.
"We do not know whether Chen [Shui-bian] has approved the recommended promotion. But as far as the ministry is concerned, the case is not difficult to solve since there have been many precedents," he said.
The official was referring to several promotions to rear admiral and major general even though the candidates had neither the necessary experience nor the advanced military education.
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