2023/03/01
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release to clarify media reports that "A Japanese economics newspaper has questioned the loyalty of the Armed Forces to defend the homeland based on information from an unknown source" (March 1, 2023)
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: March 1, 2023 at 22:50
In response to a news report by a Japanese economics newspaper based on
information from an unknown source questioning the loyalty of the Armed Forces to
defend the homeland, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated that the
Armed Forces will "Fight for the survival and development of the Republic of
China," and defend the "Wellbeing of the people of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and
Matsu". It further reiterated that all servicemen should always hold onto their
unfaltering and persistent determination to defend freedom and democracy as well
as safeguard their homeland. Baseless reports otherwise only aim to smear and
slander the integrity of servicemen. These reports will not deter the solidarity of the
troop; they only serve the enemy's purpose of destabilizing the peace and stability of
the Taiwan Strait and Indo -Pacific region.
The MND has stated that research and analysis regarding the modes of CCP spy
cases have long revealed that communist China has oftentimes used retired
servicemen to make contact with personnel in active service. As such, the MND has
planned and formulated preventive measures, and requested all levels of servicemen
to be aware of publicity and dissemination in this regard. Furthermore, the MND has
also worked in conjunction with spy elimination project investigations to conduct
check-ups of high-risk targets and limit clearance of personnel with access to
classified information, among other measures.
For counter-intelligence education, the MND has stated that it has helped enhance
the security and alertness of officers and soldiers after making use of diversified
channels, such as Ju-Guang Day TV, and others. It has also worked with national
security and joint defense mechanisms to strengthen the intensity of screening and
eliminating enemy spies. In recent years, cases of enemy spies uncovered were
reported by servicemen on their own, which demonstrates that the countermeasures
by the Armed Forces are effective.
The MND has emphasized that the spirit among officers and soldiers of "Knowledge
of integrity, distinguishing life and death, honoring responsibility, and focusing on
moral courage" is an important goal of loyal education for the Armed Forces. As
such, officers and soldiers should be acutely aware of the need to defend their
homeland as their vocation, and to invest all effort into war preparation. The MND
encourages all soldiers and officers to focus on protecting the people, and it urges
the media to fulfill their responsibility of verifying the facts before issuing reports
that could be misleading among the general public so as not to compromise regional
peace and stability.