During a meeting on the afternoon of March 22 with Commander-in-Chief John E. Hamilton of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), and VFW Adjutant General Allen F. "Gunner" Kent, President Ma Ying-jeou extended a cordial welcome on behalf of the government and people of the ROC to the group.
In remarks, the president stated that membership in the VFW (including the VFW Ladies Auxiliary) stands at nearly 2.3 million persons in the United States and around the world, and the organization has a branch in Taiwan. The president stressed that retired servicemen have made an indelible contribution to the safety of the nation, adding that the US government has historically placed great importance on the interests and welfare of veterans. Similarly, Taiwan's veterans have also made enormous contributions. They have recovered Taiwan from Japan, protected Taiwan, developed Taiwan's infrastructure, and defended Taiwan, he noted. They have selflessly dedicated their lives to the nation, the president said. Consequently, it is the government's responsibility to provide the highest degree of respect and care for veterans, he said, adding that this is only right, for the ROC is a nation that traditionally recognizes and rewards those who have served with distinction.
President Ma stated that since taking office in 2008 he has met at the Office of the President with many former leaders of the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary, including Mr. Glen Gardner, Mr. Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., Mr. Richard L. DeNoyer, and Mrs. Cortina Barnes, and former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) met while in office with senior VFW officials Mr. Richard L. Eubank and Mrs. Jan Owens. In addition, the president noted, the VFW has for over two decades urged the US government to support the ROC and sell it advanced weaponry. It has also maintained close ties with the Executive Yuan's Veterans Affairs Council (VAC), he said, adding that this highlights the stable and close relationship between the VFW and the ROC.
President Ma mentioned that each August VAC officials attend the VFW's annual convention. Last year, the agency's Deputy Minister Chin Hsiao-hui (金筱輝) and others from the ROC attended the convention and witnessed the respect that American veterans receive from the US government and the public at large, the president said. President Ma furthermore expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Barack Obama and US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, American veterans are sure to receive an even higher level of care and services.
President Ma stressed that the ROC is gradually instituting an all-volunteer military and hopes to complete the transition by 2014. This will make the ROC's defensive forces "leaner," "nimbler," and "stronger," he commented. In addition, females presently make up 7.6% of the ROC's defense personnel, he said, noting that the Ministry of National Defense is currently looking into abolishing regulations that limit the number of females in the military to 8%. The nation also is not ruling out allowing females to become combat troops, with the hope of realizing the principle of gender equality, the president said.
Peace, the president stated, as a universal desire, is the precondition for the development of a win-win relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. To date, a number of concrete achievements has been seen in this respect, and these have been well received by many nations, including the United States, he said. President Ma expressed confidence that the continued development of peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will lay the foundation for even greater stability and prosperity in East Asia.
President Ma stated that the VAC has arranged for the delegation from the VFW on this trip to pay their respects at monuments erected to commemorate two former US military advisors who died in 1954 defending Kinmen Islands, Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp and Lt. Col. Frank Lynn, along with a monument to commemorate allied soldiers captured in Taiwan during World War II. Arrangements were also made for the group to visit veterans' hospitals and training centers, he commented.
The group was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Minister of the VAC Tseng Jing-ling (曾金陵) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were Secretary-General to the President Timothy Chin-Tien Yang (楊進添) and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lu Hsiao-jung (陸小榮).