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Chinese spouses of military staff all Taiwan nationals: ministry

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/06 18:45:52

Taipei, May 6 (CNA) The 70 spouses of military personnel in Taiwan who came from China are now all Taiwanese citizens, Ministry of National Defense officials said Monday at a legislative hearing, trying to dispel worries they pose a threat to Taiwan's military.

The issue first made news on May 2 when opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsueh Ling disclosed that the military had developed an internal count of 70 of its members who had married Chinese spouses.

The revelation sparked concerns that the marriages might leave Taiwan vulnerable to spying or information leaks, concerns that the military has tried since then to quell.

DPP caucus whip Chiu Yi-ying pushed the issue Monday at a hearing of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, asking defense officials to explain how the 70 individuals could marry people from China when Taiwanese servicemen are restricted from traveling to the mainland.

Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu answered that the military servicemen who have Chinese spouses all got married in Taiwan.

Wang Ming-wo, head of the ministry's Political Warfare Bureau, added that the 70 individuals either got married before they joined the service or met their spouses after the Chinese nationals had become naturalized Taiwanese.

He said the ministry has closely monitored these individuals and has security measures in place to deal with the situation.

Before the hearing, meanwhile, Kao said the ministry was considering extending the period of time former military officials are restricted from traveling to China after they retire.

Retired military officials currently need to acquire approval to visit China during the first one to three years after they retire, depending on their security clearance.

While existing restrictions are based on the last position an individual held while serving in the military, Kao said the ministry plans to also consider the position of retired officers during their last three years of active duty.

(By Chen Pei-huang, Wen Kuei-hsiang and Kay Liu)
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