2023/07/09
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release to explain reports about "the biological warfare agent developed by the Institute of Preventive Medicine of the Medical Affairs Bureau"
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: July 9, 2023 at 17:30
In response to media reports about "the biological warfare agent developed by the Institute of Preventive Medicine of the Medical Affairs Bureau", the Ministry of National Defense (MND) clarified that the mission of the Institute of Preventive Medicine is to implement pathogen detection, and protection against and treatment of infectious diseases. It also works on the research and development of detection reagents towards biological warfare agents in order to strengthen the defense and detection capabilities against biological warfare agents. As viewed, the relevant reports are not consistent with the facts.
The MND further elaborated that combat preparation and readiness for nuclear bio-chemistry is initiated based on protective capabilities as its primary approach of development, while the purposes of establishing the "Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory" by the Preventive Medicine Institute is to detect, protect, and treat pathogens from infectious diseases. Hence, in response to the rise of epidemics with the pathogenicity of high pathogens in recent years, the Medical Affairs Bureau has planned to build a new generation of biosafety research and development facilities to strengthen biological warfare protection as well prevention against infectious disease.
The MND emphasized that our country has signed as a member to the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BTWC), but was later excluded from it due to international political consideration. Nonetheless, our country has still worked in line with the requirements of the Convention and will not develop, produce, stockpile, or acquire, obtain, or retain microbial agents, or other biological agents or toxins for military purposes. As such, rumors that the United States "urges our country to develop biological warfare agents" are, therefore, untrue.