MNA

Vice President Lai Ching-te visited the Armed Forces in the southern region today as he learned about the current build-up and preparation work of relevant units of the Armed Forces. During the visit, he affirmed the efforts of service personnel of the Armed Forces as they devote a lot of effort in troop training, combat readiness, and other related work, and offered a food allowance to express his encouragement to our brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces for their hard work. Today marked the first stop in a national defense tour by the Vice President during the administration handover. The Vice President indicated that national defense is the cornerstone of national security. In recent years, our country has systematically increased the budget for national defense, reformed the conscription and reserve system, and introduced new combat force levels. Such measures aim to enhance the national defense strength of Taiwan as a whole, deter any threats against the security of our country, and ensure the well-bing and stability of Taiwan and the region. The Vice President believes that relevant efforts have achieved remarkable results in the past eight years under the leadership of President Tsai, and the world has witnessed the determination of the Taiwanese people to safeguard their own country. In the future, the government will continue to support the Armed Forces, and work hand-in-hand to protect the homeland of freedom and democracy. The Vice President was also accompanied by Chiu Kuo-cheng, Minister of National Defense, Liu De-jin, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Huang Chong-yan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, and Chen Yi-ling, Director of the Office of the Vice President on the visit.

The domestic island-circuit voyage training of 2024 by the Navy Midshipmen Cruising & Training Squadron will begin today. For two consecutive days (16th and 17th), it will berth at Keelung Port, and the general public is welcome to board the vessel. Across these two days, various booths featuring national defense matters will be set up, while a number of exciting naval exercises will be on display, helping the public witness the solid combat power of the Navy. The opening ceremony of the visit to the Midshipmen Cruising & Training Squadron at Keelung Port was chaired by Rear Admiral Chang, Deputy Chief of General Staff of Naval Command Headquarters. Hsieh Kuo-liang, Mayor of Keelung, Legislator Lin Pei-siang, Chief Chang Yuan-siang, Department of Civil Affairs of the Keelung City Government, and other distinguished guests were invited to attend. The Keelung City Government also presented a token of its appreciation to the Midshipmen Cruising & Training Squadron and wished the mission success. After the opening ceremony, the Drum Corps of the Navy Academy, Marine Honor Corps, and Marine Corps Chikwondo performed wonderful drills, drawing enthusiastic cheers and applause from spectators. The general public were also allowed to take photos with drill officers and soldiers as a show of solidarity of the military and civilians, helping to enhance the effectiveness of national defense. This event attracted a large number of people from the northern region and tourists to Keelung. Since members of the public could board the naval warship, they were see the daily rigorous training of naval officers and soldiers for themselves. The introduction of officers on the vessel further allowed the public to appreciate the solid combat strength of the Navy. The Squadron will visit other ports such as Magong, Taichung, and Anping, providing another opportunity for the Navy to communicate with the general public, and for the general public to further understand national defense matters and the importance of protecting the maritime borders of our country, and a rare chance to experience the bearing and demeanor of our Navy in person.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade accepted draftees for the 2226th echelon for one-year compulsory military service. "First-aid for battle injuries, and self-rescue and rescuing others" training was implemented today. During the process, enlisted students were divided into groups to implement various exercises, including using transportation, tourniquets, hemostatic gauze packing, pressure hemostatic bandages, and others, and they gradually learned self-rescue and rescuing others while working in pairs. The instructor initially explained the keys aspects of various self-rescue operations and rescuing others, and broke down the demonstrations to help trainees understand the relevant details. Enlisted students then practiced what they had learned, serving as injured people and rescuers under the guidance and supervision of the squad leader, so they could learn the differences between the skills of self-rescue and rescuing others, helping to lay the foundation for combat rescue. The 302nd Infantry Brigade stated that the main purpose of combat injury first-aid and rescue training is to treat and protect the wounded while "completing tactical missions." Since failure of a tactical mission may result in the annihilation of entire battalions, it relies on the success of the tactical mission so that injured personnel can be evacuated.

The Mass Celebration Ceremony for the 81st Military Service Day for the year 2024 was held this morning at Chung Cheng Hall of the Bo Ai Building of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), jointly chaired by Po Horng-huei, Administrative Deputy Minister of the MND, and Wu Rong-hui, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI). During the event, they rendered high respect to all service administration colleagues and school principals from all levels, and affirmed recognition of award-winning colleagues for their dedication in promoting various service administration businesses and recruitment work of service personnel in the Armed Forces. The MND stated that our country facilitated a new conscription system in 1943, following which service work entered a new milestone. As such, the government specially designated March 1 as Military Service Day to celebrate the new atmosphere of service. For Military Service Day every year, the MND and MOI awards decorations, certificates, and medals to military service colleagues, service personnel, and outstanding units that have achieved favorable results in promoting the recruitment of service personnel, soldiers, and other recruitment tasks. For the event this year, a total of 205 individuals, 121 outstanding units, 45 outstanding soldiers in volunteer service, and 20 outstanding solders on alternative service, including the Director of the Taichung Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, Wu Shi-wei, were commended for the implementation of military service administration. Thanks were also rendered to the award-winning units and individuals for their efforts in promoting military service administration and protecting the homeland. As noted in the speech by Deputy Minister Po, "All preparations are to prevent war, especially as military actions adopted by the CCP around the Taiwan Strait can happen at any time. However, all our nationals can always see our brothers and sisters of the three armed forces are, whether on outlying islands, at sea, or on high mountain posts, watching vigilantly around the clock as they stand fast to their platforms". Deputy Minister Po elaborated, "Safeguarding the homeland is the responsibility of all, and a duty shared by everyone." He went on to say that it was a great honor to present the awards to all recipients. The reforms of the military service system are a big step forward for military services, and it is because of the support of all that it can continue and form part of important national defense policy of the country. The MND indicated that the Armed Forces will make use of scientific and technological tools as well as practical combat coaching as its future training model, and adhere to the principle of "the battlefield is everywhere, training all the time" as it persistently improves and strengthens training for service personnel. As such, all service personnel are ready for war upon discharge, and feel equipped with the skills and capabilities they require to perform their roles. As discharged service personnel return to society, they can help promote the policy of military service reform and become partners of the services' work. Last but not least, the MND would like to emphasize that the promotion of our major military service policy relies on the cooperation of various ministries and committees before the goals of government administration can be achieved. It is hoped that all colleagues will uphold their professionalism and strive to accomplish their tasks so that the missions of recruitment and conscription of Armed Forces personnel can be executed smoothly and successfully.

The 137th Infantry Brigade carried out the "Shooting at a Field Operation Training Ground" training today, using simulated combat with real soldiers and live ammunition, and areas to practice field operation shooting. Such training enables officers and soldiers to become familiar with beach and shore battlefield situations when conducting shooting training with rifles and other light weapons, thereby improving the combat effectiveness of troops. Xishu Beach was chosen as the shooting training ground. After the battalion commander issued orders, officers and soldiers quickly entered the shooting position in a low-profile manner. With the support of baffle plates, servicemen adopted standing and lying positions to shoot, and further combined other training modes as changing ammunition magazines and simulated trouble-shooting to familiarize officers and soldiers with rapid response shooting skills to improve the combat capabilities of troops. The 137th Brigade indicated that shooting at a field training ground requires safety and security. Hence, additional land as well as a sea-water area control team were also organized into formation to ensure the safety of shooting during training, as well as security personnel being dispatched to implement control around the areas announced for shooting.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade underwent new recruit training for 2,226 echelons on one-year compulsory service. After the Lunar New Year holiday, they returned to the Chenggongling New Recruit Centre to undergo enlistment training for new service personnel. In the training of the afternoon of the 16th, the instructors taught "Movement and Stopping." Through personal demonstration and correction, every enlisted student was given the chance to practice and familiarize themselves with movements such as leaping, diving, rolling, sneaking, side-walking, crawling, and others so that all understood the essentials of battlefield movement, helping to lay the foundation for combat basics.

The 234th Mechanized Infantry Brigade recently conducted a nighttime live-fire "Training and Testing No.112-9 Exercise of Tri-service Joint Operations" at the Joint Operations Training Base to verify the troops' ability to manage communications, and troop and firepower utilization at nighttime to help enhance combat effectiveness. This test was carried out at the Joint Training Operations Based of the three armed forces. The test started after dusk, and the artillery fired illumination bombs to kick off the live ammunition test. With solid training, servicemen from the 1st Joint Operations Battalion completed ammunition loading, hit the target, and engaged in other procedures using night vision equipment. As the commander delivered orders, the servicemen immediately launched attacks on the target areas with fire support from the Aviation and Special Forces and artillery, and successfully completed the test missions. The 234th Mechanized Infantry Brigade stated that this test was carried out with real soldiers and live ammunition, following the guidance from the Ministry of National Defense (MND) as they comprehensively made use of night vision goggles to conduct nighttime live-fire combat training, while measures such as using auxiliary lights at target areas and fluorescent markings at shooting areas were abolished. Servicemen therefore had to rely on combat skills, armored vehicles, and individual portable night vision equipment to conduct live ammunition shooting at night. Such practice helps servicemen to get closer to actual combat scenarios, test their night combat capabilities, and enhance practical experience, thus helping to improve combat capabilities.

The 3rd Joint Operations Battalion of the 234th Mechanized Infantry Brigade conducted the Training and Test No. 112-10 Exercise of Tri-service Joint Operations yesterday (18th). During the operation, the artillery unit was responsible for the task of fire support, whereas servicemen took up their positions, set up the firing command post, and loaded ammunition. Servicemen then implemented firing with the 155mm howitzer, accurately hitting the target area, and providing effective cover for primary attacking forces. All of these efforts demonstrated the excellent strike capabilities of the artillery force.

In response to the harassment from airborne balloons by the CCP, Major General Sun Li-fang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), responded at a press conference today that if airborne balloons cause serious harm on the ground, the Armed Forces shall engage in a counterattack. However, if the risk is not high, it such activity shall instead be considered gray-zone harassment and the Armed Forces will not engage in a counterattack as desired by the CCP. Major General Sun, MND spokesperson, pointed out that the Armed Forces will continue to make use of various joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance measures, and airborne aircraft to stay abreast of relevant developments. Countermeasures of the military are also based on important principles, including studying and judging the adversary's intentions. Based on the current analysis of related information, their objective is to use gray-zone threats to engage in a cognitive attack. Colonel Wang Jia-jun, Vice Director of the Offices of the Deputy Chief of General Staff (CGSs) for Operations and Planning, added that as the CCP has adopted aerial balloons for harassment, the Armed Forces remains alert and shall respond accordingly. The Armed Forces will also not make way for the CCP's asymmetric operations to disrupt combat readiness and response, thus helping the CCP in achieving their objective of depleting the military weapons of our Armed Forces. Should airborne balloons enter densely populated areas, notifications will be released to all units for close monitoring, and each combat area will be asked to meticulously remain alert to any incidents. In response to questions from the media, Colonel Huang Ming-jie, an intelligence officer from the Intelligence Research Center of the Offices of the CGSs for Intelligence, explained that airborne balloons were detected both in the morning and evening, but no wreckages have been found. Based on recent data analysis, the CCP is conducting gray-zone harassment against us as it carries out cognitive operation warfare activities.

President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Qing-de attended the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Office of the President on flag-raising ceremony at the Presidential Palace on New Year’s Day 2024 this morning. The President and Vice President arrived and accepted a salute from the captain of the Ministry of National Defense Honor Guard, and then sang the national anthem with the crowds under the leadership of the 10 previous outstanding youth representatives while the national flag was slowly raised. After the flag-raising ceremony, the President and Vice President stepped onto the stage and waved to those who participated in the ceremony. It is their hope that all generations respect and tolerate each other, move forward with perseverance, and jointly embrace a dynamic and sustainable Taiwan as we all look forward to the brand new year ahead. Others in attendance were Chen Jian-ren, Premier of the Executive Yuan, Yu Si-kun, President of the Legislative Yuan, Hsu Tzong-li, President of the Judicial Yuan, Lee Hung-chun, Vice President of the Control Yuan, Lin Jia-lung, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Chiang Wan-an, Taipei City Mayor, Lin Ding-jun, 2023 President of the organizer of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Taiwan, ROC, and Chang Jian-kun, 2024 President Chang Jian-kun of JCI Taiwan, ROC.