Representatives of the DPP's legislative caucus ambushed Minister of National Defense Tang Fei (唐飛) in his office yesterday, but managed to extract little more from the former career soldier than a commitment to "think hard" about his intended retirement when the new administration takes power.
DPP legislative caucus leader Cheng Po-ching (
Cheng made the remarks after leading caucus members to visit the minister in his office yesterday morning.
Li Ching-hsiung (李慶雄), another DPP lawmaker on the visit, said Tang had been impressed when told that he was the only member of the incumbent Cabinet who President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) wants to retain.
"Tang did not say whether he will stay. But he promised to think it over from various perspectives, including the fact that he is a member of the KMT," Li said.
"The main reason for us to visit Tang is that there have been signs of instability in the military following Chen's election victory. We hope Tang will give us a helping hand," Li said. "We believe with his reputation in the military, Tang can help us maintain stability in the armed forces. We want a peaceful transfer of power."
The DPP also wants Tang to help the new government accomplish a structural reform of the military, as mandated by the Defense Law and Organizational Law for Ministry of National Defense, which was passed in the last session of the legislature in February, DPP lawmaker Tsai Ming-hsien (蔡明憲) said.
Ministry officials declined to comment on the matter, saying Tang has made it quite clear that he is ready to retire. They also rejected media reports that Chief of the General Staff Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) is interested in taking over.
Military spokesman Kung Fan-ding (
A high-ranking defense official who declined to be identified said no one knows whether Tang Fei is interested in the job, but that if General Tang takes over, it will have to result in a large-scale personnel reshuffle at the top of the military.
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