The Ministry of National Defense's (MND) move to open military bases nationwide and display their arms to the public on weekends since Oct. 10 to promote a better relationship between the military and the public has sparked criticism in the media, with some local newspapers saying the MND may have attempted to convince the public to vote for parties and candidates who support the arms bill in the upcoming local government elections.
The controversy was sparked by the director of the Reserve Command's political warfare department, lieutenant general Chen Kuo-hsiang's (陳國祥) remarks on Friday, when he told veterans at a Reserve Command meeting "we should vote for candidates who support the arms bill. We should use our ballots to reject those who are ignoring the country's security."
A Chinese language newspaper said on Saturday that the MND should not get involved in elections and politics.
PHOTO: CHANG CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMESN
They also said the military's timing for holding the military shows and food fairs was aimed at promoting the parties and candidates who support the arms bill.
Minister of Defense Lee Jye (李傑) responded to the controversy yesterday by telling reporters"The MND always stays neutral in politics, however, the more than 290,000 military personnel have the right to vote and choose good candidates."
Lee said opening the bases was to improve the military-public relationship, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with the elections.
The Kinmen Defense Headquarters opened its bases to the public at the weekend. When marine special forces finished an operation, soldiers displayed a big poster reading "please support the arms bill."
An artillery troop in Taichung County also conducted a small-scale live-fire drill for the public on Saturday, and displayed the army's M60A3 and M41D tanks.
The Air Force Academy in Kaoshiung County conducted an air show on Saturday.
MND deputy minister Tsai Ming-hsien (蔡明憲) visited a couple of military bases on the weekend. He ate snacks with people, had his photo taken with kids and asked the public to support the arms bill.
Lee Jye also attended a food fair on Saturday at the Army Academy in Taoyuan (
Chen Kuo-hsiang yesterday told reporters his remarks on the arms bill were his own personal opinion, and that they do not represent the ministry's stance. He said, however, that he was very confused as to why legislators who had support from military communities and families opposed the arms bill.
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