The Army Command Headquarters yesterday refuted allegations that army personnel frequent hot spring resorts and premises of ill-repute in Yilan County to procure sexual services.
According to an article yesterday in the Chinese-language Next Magazine, prostitutes working in the area are mostly Chinese women who visit Taiwan on short-term tourist visas.
The report led political commentators to express concern that national security and military intelligence might be compromised, as military personnel could reveal information of national importance during these encounters.
The report alleged soldiers from the Jinlioujei Barracks (金六結) in Yilan frequently visited hot spring resorts and premises of ill-repute in Jiaosi Town (礁溪).
Under the jurisdiction of the Army Infantry 153rd Brigade, the Jinlioujei Barracks house troops and operate training programs for newly recruited soldiers.
It was alleged that groups of soldiers from the barracks would travel to Jiaosi to procure sexual services at various venues in Jiaosi while on leave.
According to a Jiaosi police official, eight people were charged with offenses against sexual morality last year in areas under its jurisdiction, while this year, one soldier is among four cases awaiting trial.
However, the Army Command Headquarters Office denied any improper conduct by its members.
“Prior to soldiers taking their days off, instructions are given forbidding them to visit improper establishments… According to our investigation, no soldier from Jinlioujei Barracks was found to have visited these kinds of premises during the time period mentioned in the article,” it said in a statement yesterday. “The report was just conjecture by Next Magazine and it was published without checking the facts properly... We request the media undertake the responsibility to verify and doublecheck the facts that are presented.”
Meanwhile, Minister of National Defense Yen Ming (嚴明) yesterday demanded that the armed forces strictly enforce rules, and reiterated that military personnel must not visit “improper establishments.”
“The military has internal management regulations and strict requirements on proper conduct. If soldiers or officers are found to have visited these improper establishments, they will be punished accordingly. There will be no leniency and no cover up,“ Yen said.
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