Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) yesterday sparked controversy at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee by saying that he does not support Taiwanese independence.
Responding to questions by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順), Feng stumbled into a political minefield with his comments on Taiwanese independence, saying: “I also have not heard President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) speak about [advocating] Taiwanese independence.”
Huang was questioning Feng on the US Pentagon’s latest report on China’s military developments, which was released on May 13. The report reiterated Washington’s position on maintaining the “status quo” on both sides of Taiwan Strait.
Photo: CNA
Huang cited parts of the Pentagon report that urged Taiwan to increase its defense spending, before asking Feng if he supported Taiwanese independence, adding that she felt distressed that she saw more bananas than Republic of China (ROC ) flags being handed out at Tsai’s inaugural ceremony on Friday.
Feng said that the most important thing for Taiwan’s armed forces is that they become a nationalized military so it can safeguard the nation’s 23 million citizens.
Later in the session, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said that Feng’s comments on Taiwanese independence were inappropriate, even if they were just his personal opinion.
Saying that a recent national survey showed 23.8 percent of the population supported Taiwanese independence, Kuan added: “It is the duty of the Ministry of National Defense and its troops to defend our nation, which also includes this 23.8 percent of citizens.”
“Regarding President Tsai, it is correct that she did not mention her support for Taiwanese independence, but she also did not say that she does not support Taiwanese independence,” Kuan said, adding that Feng should retract his statement.
Feng said he would like to retract his statement, adding that he had learned some valuable lessons at the legislative session.
The minister was also chastised for tabling a seven-page report that outlined the ministry’s agenda and goals for the coming years.
Lawmakers said the report contained no new ideas, did not deal with important issues and was nearly identical to a report submitted in March by Feng’s predeccessor Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻), adding that only a few modifications had been made.
They demanded that Feng submit a more detailed report in the coming weeks, which should have contents of real substance and on urgent issues facing the armed forces.
Feng was also questioned over his personal religious affiliation with Wusheng Gong (武聖宮), a prominent Taoist temple in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), where he was chairman of the temple’s management committee and had joined in Taoist rituals to communicate with deities and the spirit realm for guidance.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday reported that Feng and temple officials worshipped Taoist deity Ji Gong (濟公), a mischievous monk whom folklore says is fond of eating meat, drinking liquor and engaging in other whimsical behavior, while not worshipping Guan Gong (關公), the deity of war and martial arts.
It also reported that Feng had been on trips to China for cultural and religious exchanges with Chinese groups who were also Ji Gong followers.
When asked about the issue, Feng said: “That is my personal belief and it is a matter of freedom of religion, which is a universal value for humanity.”
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS