Thu, Jan 24, 2002 page3

• KMT might let Tang off the hook

  BACKING DOWN The KMT might allow Tang Yao-ming to take the minister of national defense position, but only if he commits to certain conditions such as pledging to not support Taiwan independence

  • By Stephanie Low / STAFF REPORTER
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  Although it has forbidden its members from assuming political appointments in the DPP government, the KMT may make an exception for incoming Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明).

  KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) yesterday said the party's Evaluation and Discipline Committee will give Tang's case special consideration on four conditions.

  

  Premier-designate Yu Shyi-kun, left, introduces the new defense minister Tang Yao-ming, right, at a press conference on Monday.

  TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO

  These are that Tang commit to devoting his efforts to protecting the country's security, that he not promote Taiwan independence, that he not campaign for the DPP and that he not take part in political activities, Lin said.

  "The position of minister of national defense is a special case, as the military should be nonpartisan in safeguarding national security," Lin said.

  Lin made the remarks in a weekly meeting of the KMT's Central Standing Committee, after the party's plans to punish Tang and other members joining the new Cabinet sparked public criticism.

  Before the meeting, KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Chung-ling (蔣仲苓), who is a former minister of national defense, tried to lobby committee members to speak for Tang.

  Tang also reaffirmed hi allegiance to the party yesterday. On Tuesday he said he would not take the initiative to quit the KMT.

  Tang said that he is very grateful to the KMT, as he has received much training from the country and has been well taken care of by the party since he joined the military in 1958.

  He said the political neutralization of the military has won wide public approval, and that he will spare no efforts to fulfill his constitutional duty as a military serviceman.

  In addition to Chiang, Central Standing Committee members including Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) also expressed their support for Tang in yesterday's meeting.

  Chiang, Ma and Liu proposed that the party handle the discipline violations of party members on a case-by-case basis.

  They said most military servicemen are loyal KMT members, but that it is also their obligation and responsibility to protect the country's security.

  Political affiliation should not become an obstacle for military servicemen in performing their duty, given the KMT's long-standing policy of pushing for the neutralization of the military, they argued.

  Lin said the party will take disciplinary actions after careful consideration of the severity of the violations.

  Lin said the KMT has banned members from joining the Cabinet to facilitate party politics and responsible politics, as the new "combative Cabinet" formed by the DPP is one designed to struggle for President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) re-election bid.

  "It is inappropriate for KMT members to join this kind of `combative Cabinet' that is in competition with the KMT and then campaign for the DPP during the run-up to the election," Lin said.

  In response, Tang, who has been chief of the general staff since 1999, said that the armed forces serve the country according to what is required of them by the Constitution and that such service will not change for any individual, ethnic group or political party, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of National Defense yesterday.

  "The armed forces belong to the country. Their mission is to protect the country and the people. "I have been in service for 44 years. My job is to serve the country and protect the people. Now as I am to take the defense minister post, I have the same mission in mind," Tang said in the press release.

  with additional reporting by Brian Hsu
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