A spate of bullying reports in Taiwan’s military, with three deaths from self-harm in about two weeks, has sparked public concern. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) criticised Defence Minister Wellington Koo, who championed human rights in the military during the 2013 Hung Chung-chiu case, saying: “Now that he has become defence minister himself, he has become so arrogant.”

According to reports by Liberty Times, United Daily News and Radio Taiwan International, Taiwan’s military has recorded 60 deaths from self-harm over the past three years, including three in about the past two weeks. Among them was a female lieutenant surnamed Wang from the Army’s 206th Brigade, who died by suicide after falling from a building on 30 September. An audio recording that has surfaced suggests she may have been subjected to verbal bullying before her death.

While questioning Koo about the case in the Legislative Yuan on Thursday (29 October), KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin accused him of “talking nonsense”. A visibly agitated Koo raised his voice in response, saying she “should not resort to personal attacks”, and a heated exchange followed.

Hsu questioned whether the military’s counselling system had failed and expressed dissatisfaction with what she saw as Koo’s nonchalant manner when answering questions about the case. Koo responded loudly: “How can you say I’m talking nonsense? What exactly have I said that is nonsense?” Hsu retorted: “Are you being arrogant because you’re the defence minister? Three lives lost in two weeks — do you have a conscience?”

Hsu added: “When the Hung Chung-chiu incident happened, everyone took to the streets. What were they fighting for? What position and perspective did you [Koo] take then?”

In 2013, during the presidency of the KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou, conscript corporal Hung Chung-chiu died after excessive physical training. The incident sparked a fierce public backlash and led to the resignation of the then defence minister.

Speaking to reporters before attending a questioning session in the Legislative Yuan on Friday (30 October), Koo said he was deeply saddened by the loss of young lives. He noted that a military counselling officer had intervened before Wang’s suicide, but the tragedy had still occurred, which was heartbreaking. A Ministry of Defence investigation found lapses in management and room for improvement in the counselling system. The commander and political warfare director of the 206th Brigade have been removed from their posts.

Chen I-hsin, director of the KMT’s Culture and Communications Committee, subsequently said that during the 2013 Hung Chung-chiu case, then Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Su Tseng-chang had accused Ma of failing as commander-in-chief. DPP legislators championed human rights in the military and demanded a thorough investigation and accountability. Two successive defence ministers stepped down that year. “Most ironically, Koo was invited to a meeting of the DPP’s Central Standing Committee specifically to present a report on human rights reforms in the military. Koo, who championed human rights in the military 13 years ago, has become so arrogant now that he is defence minister himself.”

Chen said Koo could not simply punish lower-ranking personnel while distancing himself from responsibility. He should give the family a sincere explanation, thoroughly investigate the truth and take political responsibility. “Back then, the Hung Chung-chiu case warranted the minister’s resignation. Today, after a female lieutenant has lost her life, only lower-ranking personnel are being held accountable. The DPP championed human rights in opposition, but now that it is in power, all it does is shield its own. If that is not a double standard, what is?”

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● Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222

● Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019