Taipei, June 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said on Friday that the Republic of China's armed forces provided a good model by maintaining strict political neutrality around the time of the March 18 presidential election.
Chen lauded the military's adherence to a neutral stance during the hotly contested presidential race as he presided over a promotion ceremony for senior officers at the Armed Forces Officer's Club in downtown Taipei.
Chen, the ROC's first head of state from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said the military deserves praise for abiding by the Constitution and upholding constitutional democracy during the presidential race.
"The military's performance helped maintain domestic stability during the island's first democratic transition of power between different political parties," Chen said, adding that it also signifies the military's achievements in "democratization and nationalization."
Article 138 of the ROC Constitution stipulates that the armed forces shall be above personal, regional or party affiliations, shall be loyal to the state, and shall protect the people.
Chen's stunning victory in the March 18 presidential election marked an end to the Kuomintang's 55-year grip on power in Taiwan. Shortly after the end of the voting, Chief of the General Staff Tang Yao-ming, on behalf of all branches of the armed forces, pledged loyalty to the ROC's new president.
At Friday's ceremony, a total of 61 military officers in land, sea and air forces were promoted to the rank of either major-general, lieutenant-general, rear-admiral or vice admiral. The promotions were to take effect from Saturday.
In his speech, Chen encouraged the new crop of military brass to apply new information technology and management concepts to troop training, education, leadership, administration and combat preparedness in order to build up a truly high-quality, professional and modern defense force.