Regarding Up Media’s coverage of “Complementary Veteran Withdrawal Differences”, the Ministry of National Defense has stated today (25^th) that the relevant content is a misinterpretation and the ministry hereby provides a clarification and explanation.

The Ministry of National Defense stated that Minister Yen went to the Central Military Institute and Academy Alumni Association on July 2^nd, 2018 to assist the association on participating the “60^th Anniversary of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis” and relevant event affairs as well as implement research and negotiation. A number of fellow comrades have mentioned the issue of pension reform during the meeting, and Minister Yen has stated that during the reform of pension the ministry and the Veterans Affairs Council will adhere to the care of the soldiers and the protection of their interests to actively strive for mechanisms including elevation of pension rate, progressively slash the preferential savings interest to mitigate the impact, military funds shifted from the government, and the minimum guaranteed amount. Minister Yen also confirmed partial implementation explanation according to the law on the same day, and did not mention about restoring the “lieutenant and major general supplementary veteran withdrawal differences”; the task force of the ministry will be visiting the association on 6^th July again to provide another explanation. The media coverage is a misinterpretation and the ministry asks that media should verify the source of content to avoid creating confusion.