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Veterans chief says MND to focus on younger generation

Veterans Affairs Commission Minister Hu Chen-pu (胡鎮埔) said yesterday he would not necessarily uphold the Ministry of National Defense’s traditional personnel arrangements while hinting that he might be interested in the position of minister for national defense.

“We only hire those who can successfully fill our vacancies,” Hu said at a meeting of the Diplomacy and National Defense Committee at the legislature yesterday morning.

“While the total number of veterans is decreasing, our job will also be changing,” Hu said.

Hu’s remarks referred to a ministry tradition wherein it often arranges for retired high-ranking officers to fill vacancies at the commission, as a token of appreciation for their service.

IF I WERE A MINISTER

Hu told the committee that he would put a stop to such personnel arrangements “if I become minister.”

“But, I must say, I have not been asked to take the position so far and I have not thought about it either. My current job is to take good care of our veterans,” Hu said.

Hu said that the commission was now taking care of approximately 80,000 veterans who joined the military in China and relocated to Taiwan following the end of the civil war in 1949.

VANISHING VETS

Hu said approximately 4,000 veterans passed away every year and estimated that the 80,000 left would all be gone within 10 years.

“Our focus has been on older veterans. But we are gradually changing our direction to focus on the younger generations,” Hu said. “How to help our younger retired service people find jobs, go to school and take care of their family members will become the new goal for us in the future.”


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