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General’s retirement
request rejected
POWER STRUGGLE: Sources allege infighting
between an alliance of the air force and the navy against the army is heating
up, but the government denies there is any discord
Staff writer, with CNA
Army commander General Lee
Hsiang-chou talks at a press conference in this undated photo. The Minister of
National Defense announced at a press conference yesterday afternoon that Lee
had applied to retire but was asked to remain in his post.
Photo: CNA
Commanding army General Lee Hsiang-chou
(李翔宙) will stay on in the job despite having expressed his desire to retire from
military service, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday.
Ministry spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) confirmed that Minister of
National Defense Yen Ming (嚴明) had asked Lee to remain in his post to serve the
nation and contribute his expertise to the military’s continued efforts to
remain combat-ready.
Lo confirmed that Lee has twice sought to leave his post since an army conscript
died in military confinement in suspicious circumstances early last month.
Lee first tendered his resignation to then-minister of national defense Kao
Hua-chu (高華柱) on July 16 to take the blame for corporal Hung Chung-chiu’s (洪仲丘)
death, which Kao rejected, Lo said at a press conference in Taipei.
Yesterday, the general filed an application with the ministry to retire from the
military, Lo said.
Lo’s remarks came after the Chinese-language United Evening News said in a
front-page report yesterday that Lee had informed President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)
of his intention to resign from his post as the army’s commanding general.
Quoting unidentified sources, the paper said Lee wanted to retire from military
service altogether.
Lo said that under current regulations, no senior military officer would present
their resignation or retirement plans to the president.
“They file retirement applications with the ministry and the ministry presents
them to the president for review only after approving them,” Lo said.
Lo said Yen, an air force three-star general, had informed Ma of his request to
retain Lee in the top position in the army.
Under current regulations, three-star generals such as Lee must retire when they
turn 64.
“There is still some time before Lee reaches his mandatory retirement age,” Lo
said.
Military sources said Lee, 61, told the ministry of his retirement plans on
Thursday and submitted a written application yesterday.
Speculation has been rife that Lee is a victim of infighting within the
military.
Lee was given an administrative reprimand in the wake of Hung’s death.
Sources allege infighting between an alliance of the air force and the navy
against the army is heating up.
The ministry firmly denies any infighting within the armed forces.
Sources familiar with the military said Lee will complete two years as army
commander next week, adding that it is unusual for commanders to suddenly file
for retirement.
Kao twice asked to resign over the Hung incident and his request was approved by
Ma on July 29. His successor as minister of national defense, Andrew Yang (楊念祖),
resigned six days after succeeding Kao due to allegations of plagiarism.
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