President Ma Ying-jeou has vowed to uphold human rights in the military. Ma was speaking Friday at a ceremony to mark the promotion of two new navy admirals and a new air force general.
During his remarks, Ma stressed that disciplinary measures used in the military must be reasonable. He said that respect for the rights of soldiers is important but must be balanced against military efficiency and discipline.
Ma said that one of the most important goals for the military right now is to transition to an all-volunteer force. The president said that the armed forces have been improving their work environments, pay and benefits, and assistance programs for retired military personnel. He said that as a result, there are more and more soldiers willing to stay on with the military even after their enlistment period is up.
Ma’s remarks come as the military enters a transitional period, with Kao Kuang-chi replacing Yen Ming as defense minister. Yen recently resigned to make room for younger leadership in the military.