Transparency International has given Taiwan a grade of “B” in its latest Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index (GDAI).
The 2015 index, released Wednesday, examines the probability of military corruption in a band of countries running from the Asia-Pacific through North Africa.
Other countries receiving a “B” in the report include Australia, Singapore and Japan. New Zealand was the only country analyzed to receive an “A”.
The GDAI is calculated based on 77 measurements. These include corruption risk rankings in areas such as politics, finance, human resources, military activities, and acquisitions.
A good GDAI ranking also indicates that countries are able to enforce strict control over their defense budgets.
A Defense Ministry official said Wednesday that Taiwan’s “B” grade shows that efforts to uphold transparency and integrity are being recognized. The official said that although Taiwan’s military has had disciplinary and legal issues, the ministry’s open and strict handling of the matter has won the public's trust.