The National Security Bureau public relations office yesterday denied media speculation that newly promoted General Yang Liu-sheng (楊六生) will be nominated to serve as the bureau's deputy director.
Local media reported that Yang had in the past been attacked by opposition parties for his involvment in a corruption scandal during former president Lee Teng-hui's (
Yang, an NSB member once stationed in Europe, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general during the military's annual promotion ceremony in June, which he did not attend.
The bureau said at the time that they had to protect Yang, who is an important figure in the nation's intelligence apparatus, and he therefore should not appear in public.
Sources from the bureau said that Yang's performance was highly appreciated by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and that despite his previous close ties to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), he had won the trust of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
"He is the only military official among those involved in the NSB corruption scandal to be promoted," the source said.
The source added that Yang's experience in handling international affairs was also considered essential to his promotion.
When serving as a military attache at Taiwan's representative office in Singapore, Yang was highly trusted by Chiang Hsiao-wu (
After the DPP won power in 2000, Yang was stationed in the US, and he was recognized as making a contribution to Chen's state visits, especially the stopovers in New York and Houston in 2001.
During his period of duty in the US, Yang also created a good relationship with another NSB military official Tsai Chao-ming (
Since the exposure of the NSB corruption scandal, Yang had been transferred to a post in Europe. He received a demerit, while other military officials involved in the scandal had to face trial.
"The way the DPP promotes military officials has seriously damaged the military's morale," said Huang Teh-fu (
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