On March 31 at the Office of the President, President Chen Shui-bian promoted Lieutenant General Peng Sheng-chu to the rank of full general and bestowed on him the Medal of Armed Forces, A-Second Class.
While congratulating the honored, the president extended his appreciation to Defense Minister Lee Jye, who attended the ceremony as well, and the whole body of the national armed forces for their long-time devotion to, and sacrifice for, the country and the people.
In his remarks delivered at the ceremony, the president cited recent reports on military power made by the US Department of Defense and the Japan Defense Agency, and said that the rapid modernization of the Chinese military had tipped the cross-strait balance of military power to the Chinese side, which is why the president and his administration have emphasized the importance of the passage of the three arms procurement bills which have been stranded in the Legislative Yuan.
"Taiwan is responsible for its own national security and the cross-strait stability," said the president. "Regarding these bills, the opposition parties should provide their opinions for further discussions and debates rather than simply and irrationally boycott these bills."
Therefore, the president added, "How can we have our international allies convinced that Taiwan is a 'responsible partner' if we leave our national security aside and breach our promise to defend ourselves only because of our partisan animosity resulted from past elections?" the president asked and addressed the public.