Minister Hopes Gov't Agencies Will Take Review of Bill Seriously 全動法修法惹議 邱國正強調廣納意見嚴審

National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says rumors that revisions to the All-out Defense Mobilization Act will allow 16-year-olds to be sent to the front line are untrue as soldiers must be at least 18 to serve in the military. 

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “No one ever said 16-year-olds would be sent to the front line. You can't serve in the military until you're 18.”

The Ministry of National Defense is denying reports that 16-year-olds could be sent to the front line once the Tsai administration's revisions to the All-out Defense Mobilization Act are passed, saying citizens have to be at least 18 to serve in the military. Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng says the act is being amended to reflect current circumstances, but admits many parts need further consideration and supplementation. He hopes the various government agencies coordinating on the revisions can take public opinion into consideration and perform a detailed line-by-line review. At the same time, Chiu says Taiwan must be prepared for war even if it is against war.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “I'm a career soldier and I strongly oppose war, but does that mean we shouldn't be prepared? As I just said, the more prepared a democratic country is, the more ready they are to follow the overall plan when war breaks out.”

With military service going back to a period of one year, conscripts may have the chance to learn how to operate Kestrel rockets, Stinger missiles and drones. Many are concerned that service needs to be extended further in order for conscripts to receive proper and adequate training.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “Military conscription recently went back to being one year, which wasn't an easy feat. We wouldn't have undertaken that without just cause, because doing so required amendments to laws.”

Chiu says frontline combat forces will be made up of volunteer soldiers, and recruitment will go hand-in-hand with conscription no matter what. In addition, recruitment targets will not be lowered just because the conscription period is being lengthened. Chiu also shot down a recent report by Japan's Nikkei that 90 percent of retired soldiers are PRC spies, saying Taiwan's government has already complained to Japan via three channels.

國防部長邱國正回應：「什麼16歲就要上戰場，這個完全沒有這種事情，我們國軍來講的話，要入伍要18歲以後。」

國防部長親上火線、強調入伍是18歲以後的事情，近來《全民防衛動員準備法》修正預告，引起不少爭議，邱國正解釋，為了讓全動法與時俱進，才會進行修法，但也坦言相關內容不夠周延，蒐集資料後會跨部會協調，納入各界意見，逐條嚴格審定。不過話鋒一轉，強調雖然反戰，但不能不做準備。

國防部長邱國正表示：「像身為軍人出身的我，我也很反對作戰，但我們不能不做準備，我剛剛講的，一個民主國家準備越周延，越會在一旦有狀況發生的話，越能夠的按部就班的，去做一個整體的運用。」

立委也關注義務役恢復1年，有機會學到紅隼火箭彈、刺針飛彈、無人機等現代化科技，憂心會不會為了讓義務役更能掌握相關設備，再延長兵役期限？

國防部長邱國正說：「（義務役）到目前已經延長一年，都很不容易了，我們不會平白無故就給它增加，因為要增加的話要修法。」

邱國正表示，主戰部隊仍會以志願役為主，募兵跟徵兵併行，不會因為義務役役期恢復為一年，就把募兵標準降低，志願役人數也不會減少。至於《日本經濟新聞》日前報導，9成退役軍官到中國出賣情報，邱國正駁斥是捕風捉影的訊息，已經透過三管道向日方抗議。