Vice Minister of National Defense General Chung Shu-ming, accompanied by Department of Legal Affairs Director-General Lieutenant General Wu Yi-sheng, the Third Theater of Operations Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Tung Chi-hsing, and other officials, visited the Ministry’s Northern Regional Legal Service Center today to inspect a “practical wartime military trial exercise.” The exercise validated the formation of provisional tribunals and investigation teams by wartime military courts and prosecutors’ offices at all levels following the transition from peacetime to wartime, in accordance with the Military Trial Act. Vice Minister Chung also observed participants simulate the investigation and adjudication of alleged offenses under wartime conditions and other courtroom procedures.
Vice Minister Chung said the Department of Legal Affairs had incorporated practical wartime military trial procedures into the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Exercise.” Active-duty military legal personnel assigned to the Taoyuan Central Operational Sector of the Third Theater of Operations during wartime formed a provisional tribunal and an investigation team to conduct the exercise jointly, validating wartime military justice mechanisms and capabilities. He commended the exercise for integrating military operations and battlefield developments from the broader operational scenario. This enabled participants to examine realistically the challenges that may arise during wartime adjudication and validate the relevant procedures and response measures.
Finally, Vice Minister Chung encouraged the military justice system to establish standard operating procedures and continue providing in-service education and training. These efforts will enable military legal personnel to restore and strengthen their investigative and adjudicative competencies while building the capacity required to administer military justice during wartime.