The Ministry of National Defense pledged to continue its new policy of having high-ranking military officials go on TV talk shows to promote the military's NT$610 billion arms procurement project, saying this will help the public understand the military and not be misled by opposition politicians.
"We must act in accordance with public opinion and seek the public's support ourselves," said spokesman Major General Huang Suey-sheng (黃穗生) during the weekly ministry press conference on Tuesday.
"Many legislators have encour-aged us to maintain this policy and arrange for more generals to talk with the media," he said.
The ministry sent three outspoken generals to appear on a political talk show at state-run Chinese Television System on Aug. 22.
The trio discussed the military's strategy and capabilities for coping with a possible invasion by China
Lieutenant-General Chi Lin-lien (季麟連), director of the Office of Joint Operations, Training, Doctrine and Development, and Lieutenant General Lei Kuang-dan (雷光旦), commander of the 6th Field Corps, both said the military could withstand an attack for 150 days.
Some opposition lawmakers have accused the ministry of trying to launch a "media offensive."
Huang, however, said that the ministry's policy will continue, adding that some defense experts and "famous commentators" have made ambiguous or groundless remarks, misleading the public about military-related issues.
"The military must shed its mysterious image. It received a positive reaction from the public after our top-ranking generals explained their experience and training," he said.
Since the start of the new legislative session earlier this month, Minister of National Defense Li Chieh (李傑) has personally taken on the task of communicating with opposition legislators. He also approved of his staff's suggestion to arrange for more generals to appear on cable-TV talk shows.
"The people of this country are the real masters of the legislators. We think that the more efforts we make to win the people's trust and understanding, the more support we will gain in the Legislative Yuan," Huang said.
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