On Wednesday morning last week, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator-at-large Wu Sz-huai (吳斯懷) published an op-ed in the United Daily News titled “Unconstitutional martial law: Soldiers should have moral integrity.” Upon reading the words “moral integrity,” I nearly fell off my chair.
In the article, Wu references South Korea’s short-lived declaration of martial law and the KMT’s recently proposed amendments to the Martial Law Act (戒嚴法). He wrote nonsensically, saying lofty things like: “A soldier’s loyalty must be to the country, to their team, to their duties and to the people” — without skipping a beat.
Could it be that he has already forgotten the conference to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙) that China held in 2016? Wu attended the conference with a group of other retired generals and listened attentively to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) speech. He even stood up with everyone and sang the Chinese national anthem. Does this behavior constitute loyalty to one’s country, team, duties and people? What kind of “soldier’s loyalty” is this?
If he still insists that he was unaware of the conference’s proceedings, he would do well to remember that “calamity will befall those who are lacking in virtue.”
He brings shame to his rank as a lieutenant general. If he were this confused on the battlefield, his entire army would surely be wiped out.
Wu even quoted the “Attack by Stratagem” (謀攻篇) in Sun Zi’s (孫子) ancient text The Art of War (孫子兵法): “The general is the bulwark of the state; if the bulwark is complete at all points, the state will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the state will be weak.”
In Wu’s case, something like: “If a general is weak, the state will fall” would be more appropriate.
The Ministry of National Defense has considered removing The Art of War from the curriculum of military academies. That would be a smart move. Students’ military management and battlefield skills tend to be underdeveloped and studying Sun Zi’s philosophy at that point is a waste of time.
It would be more appropriate to study it after graduating or during their career in the military.
Many retired military generals love to quote The Art of War, but they are simply echoing the words like parrots. They might recite it fluently, but they cannot use it in a meaningful way. They have yet to accept and adapt to modernity — ancient and modern warfare are two entirely different things.
During his military career, where he served as a lieutenant general and then deputy commander, Wu memorized The Art of War. Yet — in true parrot fashion — he still cheerfully listened to Xi’s speech and stood up with other conference attendees to sing the Chinese national anthem.
It is truly ironic that someone as stuck in the past as Wu has the audacity to use South Korea’s unconstitutional martial law declaration to discuss “moral integrity.”
Fang Ping-sheng is an international trader.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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