Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said his Cabinet would take a tougher stance under the principle of “three musts” when dealing with people endangering Taiwan’s security, including prosecuting active-duty soldiers for treason in military court.
Cho made the remarks at Tainan’s Dawan Wulong Temple (大灣武龍宮), the latest venue in a series of nationwide policy information sessions hosted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
“We must restore the public’s confidence. Those who advocate hostile military actions against Taiwan will be asked to leave this country,” Cho said.
Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei Times
“Those who commit treason or contravene the law or the Constitution must receive stern punishment,” Cho said.
As for the third must, Cho said: “Active military personnel found guilty of treason, leaking classified information, colluding with enemy forces, insubordination, dereliction of duty or other serious offenses while in service must be tried in military court.”
Cho also criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), accusing them of colluding to undermine the Constitution, fomenting political and social instability, and hindering the nation’s progress.
Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei Times
The two opposition parties have made sweeping cuts to this year’s central government budget, affecting nearly all ministries and agencies, Cho said, adding that the slashing and freezing of essential funds has left many government bodies unable to operate normally, impacting daily functions and public services.
Cho urged supporters to mobilize and assist friends and relatives in other cities and counties to help advance the second-stage signature drive for the nationwide recall campaign, led by citizen groups aiming to remove KMT legislators in more than 30 electoral districts across Taiwan.
All six DPP legislators elected from Tainan’s six electoral districts joined Cho at the event, with each taking turns to address the crowd, calling for support in the recall effort and condemning KMT and TPP lawmakers for cutting the fiscal budget.
Also at the rally were Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠) and Deputy Minister of Education Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅).
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