The Ministry of National Defense yesterday denied that a recent amendment of the Military Criminal Code (陸海空軍刑法) would encourage treason.
The amendment, which was approved by the legislature last Wednesday, states that those convicted of treason during wartime can be sentenced to life in prison or death. Previously, the death penalty was mandatory.
The ministry explained that the amendment was in line with the worldwide trend of phasing out the death penalty. It added that it would take other steps to encourage loyalty.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
"We do not believe that the amendment will encourage our soldiers to disobey their orders and commit treason during wars. In any event, the death penalty alone cannot prevent treason, either," said Rear Admiral Wu Chi-fang (
Responding to criticism that the military was seeking a return to the White Terror era, the ministry denied that an amendment to Article Six of the National Defense Act (國防法), which is still pending in the legislature, would deprive soldiers of their freedom of speech.
The amendment would prohibit military personnel from printing, distributing and posting documents, photographs, electronic messages or other materials that are not politically neutral.
"The purpose of this amendment is to make everything black and white so that everybody knows what the regulations are and our legal rights can be protected," said Wu Tai-ran (
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