The Minister of National Defense confirmed the fact that the Ministry did sign a purchase contract for U.S. pork last year after it was found that the Armed Forces were using imported pork instead of Taiwanese pork.
The National Armed Forces was accused of falsely labelling the US pork chops as Taiwanese pork and these have been served to soldiers. The Non-staple food supply station in Zuoying Kaohsiung, allegedly uses US pork disguised in a package labelled as Taiwanese pork. Giving a report in a legislative session, the Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng confirmed the Ministry did sign the purchase contract for imported pork last year, but the decision wasn't made deliberately because the ban on importing US pork was lifted.
As of now, we still use mostly domestic pork. We did not sign the purchase contract deliberately just because the ban on imported US pork was lifted.
According to a report by the Ministry of National Defense, the effective dates on the purchase contract for imported pork and processed meat products are from February 26, 2020 to February 25, 2022, whereas the effective dates for canned food are from August 26, 2020 to August 25, 2022. The food-additive Ractopamine should not be present in these aforementioned products. Lawmakers are questioning if the origin of the products is being concealed to avoid possible disputes. The MND said it will step up on the inspections.
Looking after our military officers and soldiers is one of the priorities of the MND. We will keep an close eye on these products and the regulations stated in the purchase contracts have made it clear that we will mainly use domestic pork in the non-staple food supply stations. The Ministry will not favor anyone in this regard, because it is illegal.
In response to media reports that the Ministry is intending to adjust its structures and titles and to abolish Military Corps and the Defense Commands, while preserving the combat zones, the Minister confirmed the report. Chiu said that promoting joint operations has always been the focus of the Armed Forces and that the adjustment will achieve the goal of allowing the Commander in Chief to coordinate and deploy the three armies.
國軍日前被爆料，高雄左營副食品供應站所提供的豬排，外包裝是台灣，內包裝卻是美國，引發讓國軍吃美豬爭議，國防部長邱國正到立法院報告時證實，去年就有簽約採購進口豬肉，並未因開放美豬就刻意進口。
國防部長 邱國正表示：「到目前為止，的的確確還是使用國產豬為主，並沒有講說，一定要開放，或刻意去搞出去，簽約早就簽了。」
根據國防部報告，進口豬肉及加工肉品合約，自109年2月26日至111年2月25日，罐頭食品合約自109年8月26日至111年8月25日，其中萊克多巴胺應為「未檢出」。立委質疑是否出現洗產地爭議，國防部表示未來會加強抽查。
國防部長 邱國正表示：「照顧官兵，本來就我們國防部任務，主要任務之一。一切都以把關為主，我們在這個合約裡面，訂得很清楚，原產地，我們儘量用我們自己原產地的豬隻的肉，來做一個副工站，一個銷售，不會在這一方面，故意放水。圖利任何人，這邊都違法的。」
至於有媒體報導，國防部有意調整組織及銜稱，將廢止軍團、防衛指揮部，保留「作戰區」編制。邱國正也證實，將朝這個方向規劃，因為聯合作戰是國軍一直以來推動的重點，想藉此達到讓作戰區指揮官統籌三軍及運用兵力的目的。