Taiwanese legislator questions loyalty offense penalties in military code revision

Taiwan's legislature is deliberating revisions to the "Army, Navy, and Air Force Criminal Code" aimed at strengthening penalties for disloyalty and treasonous acts. The proposed amendments, put forth by the Executive Yuan, seek to establish clearer legal consequences for military personnel who express loyalty to an enemy, with a potential sentence of one to seven years imprisonment. Additionally, the draft includes provisions for punishing those who fail to fulfill their duties and surrender to the enemy, carrying a sentence of three to ten years. It also introduces penalties for preparatory and conspiracy offenses to deter infiltration by hostile forces. During a joint review by the legislative committees on judicial and legal affairs, and foreign and national defense, legislator Weng Hsiao-ling of the Kuomintang party raised concerns about the proposed sentencing. She argued that the maximum seven-year term for expressing loyalty to an enemy was excessive and suggested reducing it to five years. Conversely, Weng argued that the proposed increase in the maximum penalty to 12 years for causing death while driving under the influence was too lenient. Despite attempts at mediation, the committee decided to send both amendment proposals to the legislative floor for cross-party consultation without a final decision.