The Ministry of National Defense’s proposed amendments to the General Mobilization Act (全民防衛動員準備法) have raised concerns over whether the changes would affect personal liberties.
The act was promulgated on Nov. 14, 2001, and was amended in 2014 and 2019.
The ministry yesterday said the law is focused too much on preparatory measures and lacks regulations defining a chain of command, a legal basis for expropriation during times of war and other issues.
Photo: CNA
The efficacy of the nation’s mobilization efforts is vital to its survival, the ministry said.
Article 13 of the act stipulates that all units in charge of mobilization readiness should ensure that personnel, equipment and facilities are prepared through inspections, inventory management and planning, to ensure the nation can defend itself in the event of an invasion.
A declaration of mobilization shows that a country is entering a time of alert, and necessary measures must be implemented, the ministry said.
The proposed amendments would protect the nation and ensure that Taiwanese can survive an attack, the ministry said, adding that it would consider all opinions before tendering another version for review.
It said it welcomes public input on the amendments, and called for calm and level-minded debates on the issue.
The ministry meanwhile denied a media report that the proposed amendment sought to use child labor to manufacture arms.
A section of the bill states: “School defense groups should assist with the production of military supplies.”
The ministry said the sentence does not mean that students would help manufacture ammunition.
The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that the Ministry of Education had asked local education offices nationwide to prepare lists of students aged 16 or above for mobilization purposes.
The newspaper said the list would be uploaded to the All-out Mobilization Defense Agency Web site and that the pupils would be used to manufacture munitions.
The ministry said creating such lists was regular practice, adding that the information would be uploaded to the Internet for ease of administrative management.
By law, school defense groups are not responsible for the wartime production of ammunition at military plants, the ministry said, adding that the groups would help manufacture 10 types of products, including food.
Additional reporting by CNA
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man