MINESWEEPERS: The 24, including the chief of general staff, were disciplined for awarding the bid to Ching Fu and for misinforming lawmakers about the project
Taipei Times
Date: Nov 23, 2017
By: Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday censured a number of top navy
Then-vice minister of national defense Lee Hsi-ming, who is currently serving as the chief of general staff, is pictured on Feb. 24. Photo: Tu Chu-min, Taipei Times
officers, including Vice Minister of National Defense Admiral Pu Tze-chun (蒲澤春) and Chief of General Staff Admiral Lee Hsi-ming (李喜明), in connection with a minesweeper procurement scandal.
Disciplinary action was doled out for misconduct in contracting Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co (慶富造船) to build the vessels and a report on the minesweeper program presented by defense officials in the legislature last year, the ministry told a news conference.
A total of 24 officers were disciplined, it said.
A ministerial task force was called on Nov. 2 after an Executive Yuan investigative report found fault with the military’s handling of the contract with Ching Fu to build six minesweepers, the ministry said. [FULL STORY]
