TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday (Sept. 4) it was investigating allegations that a retired general had stood for China’s national anthem in Hong Kong.

The incident happened when Tsang You-hsia (臧幼俠) attended the meeting of a group called the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, Mirror Media reported Tuesday (Sept. 3). The retired general was also a former head of the Kuomintang’s (KMT) Huang Fu-hsing Chapter, a group with close links to the military.

The MND said it would invite the National Security Bureau (NSB), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Mainland Affairs Council to help out with the investigation, per CNA. The ministry also called on former military staff to take care and stay away from invitations from China to attend events.

Tsang failed to leave when the Chinese national anthem was played, which might constitute an offense against the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. Any action damaging Taiwan’s national dignity could be punishable by a loss of 50% or 100% of pension for five years.