Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday urged the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to re-evaluate how it chooses military instructors after retired captain Chang Ching (張競) repeatedly appeared in Chinese talk-shows commenting on cross-strait military matters.
So far this year, Chang, who is an instructor at the National Defense University, has appeared in the shows The Tactics (中國戰法) and Tigertalks (一虎一席談), hosted by Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, a total of six times, and has appeared 10 times in a show broadcast by Xiamen-based Xiamen Star.
During the July 4 recording of The Tactics, Chang talked about the geological features in the waters around Penghu islands and said that Taiwan does not need to make a political fuss over Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning’s passage through the Taiwan Strait on its way to Hong Kong.
Chang said on Facebook that during the Jan. 5 recording of Tigertalks, he made positive remarks about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s performance in developing an aircraft carrier.
His professional suggestions on and criticism of Chinese warplanes flying past the first island chain were praised by retired Chinese military officials, Chang said, but added that the segments were later cut from the show.
DPP Legislator Wang Ding-yu (王定宇) said Chang’s frequent appearance on Chinese TV shows talking about military issues cast doubt on his job as an instructor at the university.
Chang’s freedom of speech should be respected, Wang said, but added that China is Taiwan’s only enemy.
“He is being friendly toward China while teaching classes to active military personnel [in Taiwan]. Would he not have a problem as to whether China is a friend or foe?” Wang asked.
Chang would be in an excellent position to sap and corrode military morale from within, as well as to recruit agents for the Chinese military, Wang said.
The ministry must consider what it wants to teach military officers and bear in mind that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the sole enemy of Taiwan at this time, Wang said.
DPP Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) said that if Chang had commented on international relations or tactics, he would not have violated any law, as it would be considered freedom of speech.
However, given that Chang accumulated his professional knowledge at the nation’s expense, his actions, while not illegal, are morally questionable, Tsai said.
Chang studied at the Republic of China Naval Academy, the US Naval Academy and obtained a masters and a doctorate at Hull University in England. Chang served as captain of the now-decommissioned LST-221 amphibious assault ship and retired from the military in 2010.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS