News reference materials for the press conference of the Ministry of National Defense in the third week of February

Time: February 21, 2024 at 10:00

1. Topic of the press conference: Public Lot Drawing of the "Substantive Review of Property Declarations among Public Officials for the Year 2023" by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

2. Moderator: Major General Sun Lifang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense.

3.Participants:

(1)Lieutenant General Yang Ji-rong, Administrative Deputy Minister of the Army
(2)Lieutenant General Lee Chao-ming, Inspector General 
(3)Mr. Wang Chen-kuo, Director of the Civil Service Ethics Office
(4)Vice Admiral General Chiu Jun-rong, Chief of Staff of Navy Command Headquarters
(5)Major General Wu Chang-feng, Director of the Military Discipline Inspection Division, Office of the Inspector General
(6)Colonel Li Chang-fu, Deputy Director of the Joint Operations and Planning Division, Office of the Deputy CGSs
(7)Colonel Huang Ming-jie, Intelligence Officer of the Intelligence Research Center, Office of the Deputy CGSs 
(8)Section leaders and business undertaking-managers of the military discipline inspection teams of each headquarters (command) 

4. News reference materials for the press conference:

    In accordance with the "Review and Inspection Measures of Property Declaration Information among Public Officials", the MND publicly held a "Press Conference of Public Lot Drawing for the Review of Property Declarations among Public Officials for the Year 2023" today (21^st). Participants included Lieutenant General Yang, Administrative Deputy Minister of the Army, Lieutenant General Lee, Chief General, Director Wang, Civil Servant Ethics Office, Major General Wu, Director of the Military Discipline Inspection Division, and on-site reporters. The draw entailed a computer operating system for "random sampling", with 314 people selected from 3,137 obligors listed for control of property declarations in the military so a substantive review of operations can be conducted. Seven more people were chosen from the 314 people to compare their annual declaration materials before and after implementation to enhance administrative transparency through an open and fair lot drawing process.

   To implement the administration goal of "clear and transparent anti-corruption and a clean government", the MND will hold a public press conference when drawing lots every year. Relevant chief officials, supervisors, and on-site reporters can attend the event, while the computer program randomly draws lots and spontaneously selects applicants for substantive review.

    Since the Property Declaration Law was promulgated in 1993 by the MND, it has now fully adopted online declaration operations, except for some personnel who need to conduct declarations in written form in accordance with the National Intelligence Work Act. Various obligors of declarations across the military can furnish their declaration within the designated time limit and to a good quality. In addition, the MND will continue to promote authorization services for the property declaration system to simplify the declaration process. Since its launch in 2018, the authorization rate has increased year by year, reaching 95.80% by 2023. Aside from those who are required to submit a written property declaration, the authorization rate has reached 99%, which has significantly reduced the number of colleagues being dismissed and punished due to false declarations, and gradually achieving the administrative goal of zero dismissals and penalties. As such, the end result demonstrates the execution ability of the Armed Forces of "mission honored and delivered."

     Administrative Vice Minister Yang said in his speech that integrity and military discipline are the standards and norms of a military career, and it takes a long time to internalize this in the mindset of all military personnel. To this end, it is necessary that all military personnel strictly abide by property declaration regulations to ensure transparency. He further urged all service personnel to follow the laws and regulations of both military preparations and administrative operations so the Armed Forces can demonstrate "integrity, self-restraint, and administration according to the law."