Chiu Apologizes for Missing Soldier in Kinmen 金防部二膽島爆士兵失聯 邱國正致歉

Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng apologized after a soldier surnamed Chen went missing on Kinmen's Lieyu on the 9th. The search efforts are ongoing while officials declined to comment on speculations that Chen may have fled to China.

The family of a missing soldier stares into the camera without speaking. According to the Kinmen Defense Command, the soldier, surnamed Chen, went missing on the 9th in Lieyu. The Army sent out search teams to look for him as his family flew to Kinmen and then traveled to Dadan Island by boat.

The soldier has now been missing for two days. His cell phone is still on somewhere on or around the island, and the military hopes to find him within 72 hours.

Lee Chi-heng, Chief of Staff, Kinmen Defense Command: “We're not here to talk about theories. We must find him within the "golden" 72-hour window. This is our goal.”

On the 10th, National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the military would not be shirking its responsibilities and it has already asked the Coast Guard to join the search. He also said internal management and training policies would be reviewed, and declined to address speculation that Chen fled to China.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Defense Minister: “There is no evidence that he is now in China. If -- as I just said, I'm not here to address rumors and speculation. What happened is regrettable and we will continue to look for him. We can talk about all this after we find him. ”

Chen Yu-jen, Legislator (KMT): “I think it is very unlikely he fled (to China). At his rank, he doesn't have any intelligence to offer China.”

This is just the latest hit to the reputation of the Taiwanese military, with Chen's disappearance coming after firearms were reported missing at two bases and recent reports of soldiers being forced to subsist on instant noodles in Matsu due to a meat shortage and private video leaks. Chiu has apologized for the lack of military discipline and says both the ministry and the judiciary are investigating the missing firearms.

面對鏡頭不發一語，家屬心情沉重，陸軍金門防衛指揮部9日爆出烈嶼守備大隊二膽守備隊陳姓上兵失聯，陸軍成立專案小組全面搜索，家屬也搭機飛往金門，轉乘船隻前往大膽島。陳姓上兵失聯2天，由於手機訊號仍顯示在島周邊，國軍把握黃金72小時，持續搜索。

金防部參謀長李其桓表示：「很多的臆測我們都不做評論，現在我們就是一定要掌握黃金72小時來協尋，這個是我們的關鍵。」

國防部長邱國正10日對外致歉，除了協請海巡幫忙找人，他強調不會推卸責任，指出從內部管理到管教都要深入檢討，並透露上兵有外務或債務問題，外界關切陳姓上兵有沒有可能叛逃到對岸。

國防部長邱國正說道：「到目前沒有任何訊息講說他已經到對岸或如何，所以我剛剛講我沒辦法臆測好，這邊是很遺憾的一件事情，我們持續要找找到人再講。」

國民黨立委陳玉珍提及：「我覺得叛逃可能性也相當低，因為以他的位階來講，對大陸這個有什麼情報也是相當低，所以我個人覺得叛逃可能性相當低。」

至於龍泉新訓中心爆出點45手槍被掉包成模型槍，重創國軍形象，邱國正表示，目前移送司法調查，國防部也會做出行政調查。國軍近期接連爆出馬祖缺肉、金門官兵失蹤、私密影片外流等爭議，立委直言國軍軍紀渙散。邱國正再度致歉，表示國軍要徹底檢討。