• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

MND has followed precedents in arranging trip for outgoing president

ROC Central News Agency

2008-04-08 16:20:11

    Taipei, April 8 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday that it has "followed precedents" in arranging for Taiwan's outgoing president to pay a visit to the military before leaving office.

    MND spokeswoman Lisa Chi made the remarks after the Apple Daily, a local tabloid, reported the same day that the ministry has arranged for President Chen Shui-bian to visit military installations in his capacity as the nation's commander-in-chief prior to stepping down on May 20 at a cost of up to NT$100 million (US$3.29 million).

    Some military officials said it would cost NT$10 million alone for the fuel costs to have military vessels return to Zuoying Naval Base from where they are stationed to be reviewed.

    Added to that would be expenses for fuel and equipment for the army, air, logistics, military police and reserve command, according to reports.

    Chi said the ministry has followed precedent in arranging Chen's visit and that the president went out of his way to ask that there be "no pomp" in arranging the trip. "The ministry has made the trip into a visit of the troops and the expenses will be funded from their training costs, " Chi said, denying that the ministry has arranged for any type of ceremonial review or squandered a large amount of money.

    Chi stressed that the president is the commander-in-chief under the Constitution, and his review of military forces is a routine and normal operation.

    The visit will follow military protocol and be conducted in a simple and warm manner with "etiquette and decorum" befitting a president but will not interrupt normal military operations.

    Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged parties across the political spectrum and the public to show the "necessary respect for the outgoing and incoming presidents."

    Legislator Sun Ta-chien of the opposition Kuomintang said that in view of the dire financial straits of the nation, he hopes the visit will be conducted in a "simple but solemn way to lessen the burden on the MND and national coffers."

(By Lilian Wu)

enditem/ls