TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Friday addressed public concerns over the military’s role in Hualien’s disaster recovery, particularly the deployment of soldiers to help clear debris from private homes.

Former legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) criticized President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for authorizing troops to operate inside residences, warning such actions could cause “unnecessary problems.” He said situations could become “tricky” if soldiers discovered valuables such as cash during cleanup, per UDN.

Koo said the troops acted under presidential authorization and were supervised by residents while working in homes. He emphasized that both affected residents and the broader public strongly support the military’s relief efforts, per NOWNews.

While Koo did not comment on whether Chen should apologize, the Ministry of National Defense highlighted appreciation posts from the public, reaffirming support for the armed forces.

Chen’s remarks drew swift backlash from the opposition. Kuomintang Spokesperson Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) accused Chen of slandering the military in an attempt to shield the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, per NOWNews. She said the discipline and professionalism of the armed forces are invaluable in rebuilding efforts.

KMT Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) said Chen’s comments were akin to suggesting soldiers might commit theft and were unfair to those working under harsh conditions, per UDN. She urged Koo to stand up for the integrity of troops serving in disaster zones.

In response to the criticism, Chen defended his comments, saying the KMT was deflecting blame from the Hualien County Government, per Liberty Times. He also alleged some online attacks against him came from malicious actors seeking to distort public discourse.