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.
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS