2020/08/24
The Ministry of National Defense issued a press release to explain media reports that "3D body scanners for military uniforms are suspected of mainland capital"
In response to media allegations that "3D body scanners for military uniforms are suspected to have mainland capital, entrapping high-ranking generals of Taiwan in assassination crisis," the Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (24) that the report is drastically exaggerated and has deviated from the facts. The MND has thus clarified as follows:
1. The case of commissioned business for the Armed Forces Clothing Supply and Sales Station is currently in the process of bidding, and the bid has not yet been awarded. Furthermore, Tri-Service Command has stated in the bidding instructions that "manufacturers in the mainland and manufacturers from third areas with mainland capital, as well as mainland-funded manufacturing plants from Taiwan, are not allowed to take part in the bidding." As for "Human Body Scanning and Measuring Instruments" offered by the winning bidders, they will be reviewed according to relevant government laws and regulations, and only those devices not provided by mainland-funded manufacturers will be authorized for use.
2. The "Human Body Scanning and Measuring Instrument" is an additional service item provided by the manufacturers on their own, which is merely used to assist in body shape measurement and does not work to take photographs of faces. Furthermore, information of officers and soldiers displayed at the Armed Forces Clothing Supply and Sales Station to the outside world is tagged with "personal code" for identification, and manufacturers cannot directly identify their personal service unit, class, position, or other information, so that there is no doubt regarding the leakage of personal information. The media reports are untrue and are thus clarified.