TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) on Tuesday (Oct. 15) announced disciplinary action against retired Taiwanese Major General Tsang You-hsia (臧幼俠) after his participation in a pro-unification event in Hong Kong, where he stood for the Chinese national anthem.
The ministry decided to reduce his monthly pension by 75% for five years. Tsang, a former Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) official, violated Article 9-3 of the "Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" (兩岸關係條例), according to the ministry.
They have decided to apply the penalty retroactively from Aug. 20, 2024, and will recover any payments made since then. The ministry also plans to revoke his previously awarded honors, excluding service and loyalty medals. The pro-unification event in Hong Kong, which Tsang attended, sparked criticism from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
The MND stated it convened a review meeting with agencies, including the National Security Bureau (NSB, 國安局) and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) on Oct. 9 to assess the case based on concrete evidence.
On Oct. 9, the ministry confirmed Tsang's actions harmed national dignity after thorough discussions and consultations with relevant agencies. They reached this conclusion following a comprehensive review of the facts and Tsang's statements. The ministry emphasized its commitment to upholding the law and protecting national integrity.