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Military simplifies soldiers' code

"I have only hired five staff members who will work closely with me ... I heard rumors that I would replace at least a dozen members of staff with my favorites. The truth is, it never happened."

Lee Tien-yu, defense minister

Starting on July 1, the spiritual doctrine guiding members of the nation's armed forces will be reduced to "three articles of faith" (三大信念), Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu (李天羽) said yesterday.

The armed forces have followed five articles (五大信念) over the past six decades; doctrine, leadership, nation, responsibility and honor. From next month, however, these will be reduced to just three; nation, responsibility and honor.

The five articles were usually repeated and yelled out loud by soldiers while marching or during roll calls.

The ministry decided to do away with "doctrine" and "leadership" after a period of deliberation and assessment.

"This is a done deal and we will carry it out," Lee said during yesterday's National Defense Committee meeting in the legislature.

"The policy was well-thought out and planned before we decided to carry it out," Lee said. "The new `three articles of faith' will be a lot more practical."

The ministry also formally announced the promotions of four high-ranking officers; one three-star general, two three-star admirals and one two-star vice admiral.

Warfare adviser

Vice Minister of National Defense Chu Kai-sheng (朱凱生) will become a warfare adviser to the president. Commander-in-chief of the Navy, Admiral Lin Chen-yi (林鎮夷), will succeed Chu.

Deputy Chief of General Staff Wang Li-shen (王立申) will succeed Lin as the commander-in-chief of the Navy, while Deputy Minister of National Defense Vice Admiral Kao Kuang-hsi (高廣圻) will succeed Wang and will be promoted to the rank of three-star admiral.

In response to complaints from lawmakers that claimed that Lee "had immediately hired his own favorites after assuming office" on Monday, Lee said he had only changed less than 10 percent of the minister's personnel.

"I have only hired five staff members who will work closely with me," he said. "I heard rumors that I would replace at least a dozen members of staff with my favorites. The truth is, it never happened."

Lee added that the promotions for the four high-ranking officers were not his idea.

"It was actually the result of brainstorming by the president, former minister Lee Jye (李傑), the commanders-in-chief of the three services and myself," he said. "This personnel arrangement was decided on last week, even before I took office."

Hour-long talk

Speaking for the first time at the Legislative Yuan as defense minister, Lee Tien-yu also confirmed that he had met with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at the president's residence on Thursday last week for an hour-long talk.

During the meeting, Lee Tien-yu said, the president talked with him about the need for the country to purchase F-16 jet fighters from the US, in addition to discussing his new position.

Lee Tien-yu said the president told him that his top task upon assuming the post of defense minister would be to upgrade the armed forces' defense capabilities through the purchase of new weapons systems and equipment.
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