MNA

President Lai Ching-te traveled to Hualien this morning to present a posthumous presidential citation to Major Hsin Po-yi, a fighter pilot with the 27th Tactical Fighter Group of the Air Force’s 5th Tactical Composite Wing. The citation honored Major Hsin as an exemplar of loyalty and valor for his devotion to duty and defense of the nation. His father, Hsin Chin-yu, accepted the citation on his behalf. In his remarks, President Lai said that he gathered with everyone that day with a profound sense of sorrow to remember Major Hsin Po-yi, a courageous airman who gave his life defending the nation and its people, and to present a posthumous presidential citation honoring his contributions to both. President Lai recalled that in the prime of his youth, Hsin underwent rigorous training at Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School and the Republic of China Air Force Academy. After graduation, he chose the highly demanding vocation of military aviation, turning his loyalty to the nation and love of the skies into action. Ultimately, he gave his life in fulfillment of the military spirit of loyalty and valor. The President further emphasized that Hsin had performed his duties with devotion and distinction, successfully completing every mission entrusted to him by his superiors. He was not only an exemplary fighter pilot, but also a resolute defender of Taiwan’s airspace and peace across the Taiwan Strait. President Lai thanked Hsin for dedicating himself to military service and serving his country, and extended his deepest condolences to the family. He also noted that Hsin’s wife is an important member of the Armed Forces. Everyone was deeply saddened by Hsin’s loss, and he instructed the Ministry of National Defense to provide his family with the fullest possible support. President Lai said that Hsin was a source of pride to both his family and the nation. The loyalty and valor he displayed in defending the country would remain forever in the hearts of the people, and Taiwan would always take pride in his service. In closing, President Lai addressed Hsin directly: “Your mission is complete. Rest assured that we will take up the watch and protect the country and family you loved so dearly. Thank you. You are relieved of duty.” National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu, and Chief of Air Force General Cheng Jung-feng also attended the ceremony.

Accompanied by Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-Hsiung, Vice Chief of Army Lieutenant General Li Tian-long, Third Theater of Operations Commander Lieutenant General Lien Chih-wei, Lanyang Regional Command Commander Major General Hsu Cheng-hui, and other officials, President Lai Ching-te visited the Army’s Lanyang Regional Command in Yilan this morning to inspect its preparations for Typhoon Bavi. He thanked the Armed Forces for working alongside the Executive Yuan’s Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) on typhoon preparedness and disaster response, and encouraged service members to cooperate with local governments, stand with the people, and minimize the impact of the disaster. President Lai first received a briefing on disaster preparedness before inspecting emergency response equipment, including communications vehicles, tactical rope rescue kits, and engineering machinery. At noon, he joined unit leaders and representatives of the troops for lunch and presented an additional mess fund in recognition of their hard work. In his remarks, President Lai noted that a maritime typhoon warning for Typhoon Bavi was expected to be issued that afternoon. With the typhoon forecast to bring substantial rainfall, the Executive Yuan had already activated its disaster response mechanisms. He had therefore come to the Lanyang Regional Command under the Third Theater of Operations to inspect its preparations firsthand. President Lai reminded service members that the Armed Forces were established with the fundamental mission of protecting the lives and property of the people. Whether confronting threats from hostile forces or natural disasters, the military must stand with the people and help keep losses to a minimum. The President also offered three directives. First, all necessary disaster preparedness measures must be completed. Second, troops must be pre-positioned in areas prone to flooding and other disasters, while maintaining close cooperation with local governments. Third, the Armed Forces must actively support post-disaster recovery efforts and help affected residents resume their normal lives as quickly as possible. President Lai said the earlier briefing showed that all six operational task groups had been formed and were equipped to meet the full range of disaster response needs. More than 7,000 troops had also been placed on standby for deployment by the theater of operations to flood-prone areas across Yilan. All machinery, equipment, vehicles, and communications systems required for disaster relief were in position, demonstrating thorough preparation. The President thanked the Third Theater of Operations for assisting local governments with disaster relief when Typhoon Fung-wong struck last year, helping minimize the damage suffered by residents. At the time, Luodong, Dongshan, Wujie, and Su’ao experienced significant flooding. The Third Theater of Operations responded effectively, quickly helping to mitigate flooding, restore roads, and address other storm damage. President Lai emphasized that Taiwanese society has high expectations of the Armed Forces and strongly supports them. In addition to building defense capabilities and safeguarding national security, the military has repeatedly demonstrated its value in disaster response. During last year’s Matai’an River barrier lake incident in Hualien, hundreds of thousands of volunteers, dubbed the “Shovel Heroes,” joined relief efforts, but the Armed Forces provided the most vital source of support. This fully embodied the military’s commitment to caring for the people and standing together with them, a spirit that must continue to be upheld. In closing, President Lai once again thanked all members of the Armed Forces and expressed his hope that every disaster relief operation would be conducted safely, smoothly, and successfully.

Vice Minister for Armaments General Chung Shu-ming visited Hualien today on behalf of Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung to extend appreciation to personnel at the Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital and the Hualien-Taitung Detachment of the Armaments Bureau’s Construction and Real Estate Service Center. He thanked them for their long-standing dedication to combat readiness support and medical services and extended his early wishes for a happy Dragon Boat Festival. During the visit, Vice Minister Chung received briefings from the Hualien-Taitung Detachment of the Central Region Construction and Real Estate Division under the Armaments Bureau’s Construction and Real Estate Service Center, as well as from the Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital, to gain a better understanding of their mission execution and current priorities. Regarding the operations of the Hualien-Taitung Detachment, Vice Minister Chung noted that the Hualien-Taitung region covered a vast area, making mission execution and project implementation particularly challenging. He encouraged the unit to periodically review non-essential tasks and scheduling arrangements to avoid unnecessary workloads. He also emphasized the importance of personnel succession planning and knowledge transfer to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities before experienced contract employees retired. With respect to real estate and facility management, which frequently involved land administration, inspections, and coordination with local authorities, Vice Minister Chung encouraged leaders at all levels to proactively understand on-site conditions, identify the root causes of issues, and handle related cases appropriately. After receiving the briefing from the Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital, Vice Minister Chung stated that military medical personnel served as both service members and healthcare professionals. In addition to providing routine medical care, they should develop a comprehensive understanding of military medicine and their roles in wartime operations. He emphasized the importance of considering the functions and responsibilities that military hospitals would assume during combat operations. He also called for closer coordination with the theater of operations and the continued refinement of casualty collection, forward medical support, treatment at designated hospitals, and medical evacuation planning through peacetime preparations, computer-assisted wargaming, and validation during the Han Kuang Exercises. Furthermore, he encouraged integration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s designated hospital network to jointly strengthen medical resilience in the Hualien region. Regarding the hospital’s future development, Vice Minister Chung stated that enhancing medical capacity required continuous improvements in facilities, professional expertise, and the quality of healthcare services. He encouraged the superintendent and supervisors at all levels not only to excel in their professional responsibilities but also to focus on the hospital’s long-term development. Through effective goal-setting, strategic planning, and performance management, they could continue improving healthcare quality and operational effectiveness. He further noted that smart healthcare would be an important area of future development. Fields such as AI-assisted clinical decision-making and healthcare system automation merit sustained investment and advancement. Vice Minister Chung encouraged all personnel to leverage collective wisdom, strengthen communication and coordination, and continue advancing the development of military medicine.

Today, the Second Operational Zone, together with cross-regional reinforcement personnel from the Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones and the Marine Corps Command, mobilized multiple heavy engineering equipment units to Changqiao Village, Fenglin Township, Hualien County, continuing tasks such as road debris clearance, disinfection, and household environment cleanup. They are working at full capacity to remove mud and obstacles, assisting local authorities in restoring passage and basic living functions for residents. Executive Yuan Political Deputy Minister Chi Lien-cheng visited Mingli Village in Wanrong Township and Changqiao Village in Fenglin Township today to inspect disaster conditions, understand the current situation in affected areas, and provide guidance. In addition to consoling local disaster victims, Deputy Minister Chi also encouraged the service members assisting with residential cleanup, praising their hard work in disaster relief operations. The Second Operational Zone stated that units will continue to dispatch manpower and equipment according to the needs of local governments, fully executing post-disaster recovery tasks and assisting reconstruction efforts in the fastest and most effective manner, joining hands with local authorities and residents to overcome challenges and restore their beautiful homeland as quickly as possible.

Recovery efforts in Guangfu Township, Hualien, following the disaster continue to advance. Coinciding with the three-day National Day holiday, large numbers of volunteers from across the country poured into Guangfu Township to work shoulder-to-shoulder with ROC Armed Forces personnel on community cleanup and environmental disinfection, becoming the force helping this land stand tall once again and demonstrating the firm belief of military-civilian unity in rebuilding together. Today, marking the Double Tenth National Day, volunteers who rushed to Guangfu Township for disaster relief spontaneously waved national flags to jointly celebrate the occasion and extend sincere gratitude to the ROC Armed Forces personnel who have tirelessly devoted themselves to relief operations. The atmosphere at the scene was lively and heartwarming, with volunteers and service members encouraging one another, symbolizing the united strength of the entire nation in protecting the homeland together and filling post-disaster Guangfu Township with hope and emotion. In addition, to prepare for possible impacts from the northeast monsoon and Typhoons Halong and Nakri, ROC Armed Forces personnel assisted residents in stacking sandbags along the Lintian Main Road and clearing mud from surrounding homes, completing preventive measures ahead of time to ensure local safety.

Typhoon Ragasa caused severe damage in the Hualien area. President Lai Ching-te commended the ROC Armed Forces for their full commitment to disaster relief and reconstruction in the affected areas. To further accelerate recovery progress, the Ministry of National Defense continues to dispatch additional troops for cross-regional reinforcement, ensuring sufficient manpower and material resources in the disaster zones to address subsequent cleanup and rebuilding efforts. After a comprehensive assessment of recovery progress in the disaster areas and in accordance with President Lai’s policy directive of “every second counts” in disaster relief operations, the Ministry of National Defense will deploy additional troops from the Second and Fourth Operational Zones tomorrow (November 26), providing approximately 2,000 personnel equipped with relevant machinery. In coordination with local government needs, these forces will work day and night in shifts on tasks including material transport, road debris clearance, and urban area restoration, maintaining uninterrupted disaster relief operations. Furthermore, under authorization from the President and with the consensus of township or village leaders as well as the accompaniment of homeowners, service members may enter residences to assist in removing large furniture or clearing mud, taking the most practical actions to help citizens rebuild their homes as quickly as possible.

RF-5E Decommissioning Ceremony: Formation Flight Completes Final Mission The Air Force Command held the “RF-5E Decommissioning Ceremony” at Hualien Air Base today, featuring a formation flight, static display, and screening of a documentary film. The event also specially invited pilots’ families to attend and witness the historic moment alongside service members. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hung-Hui Pai, who presented commemorative gifts and arm patches to mission pilots and logistics personnel, expressing gratitude for their long-term commitment and professional dedication. During the event, a formation of five aircraft, consisting of three RF-5E and two F-5F aircraft, took off from Hualien Air Base, conducted an airspace patrol along the eastern sea, and passed through a water arch created by fire trucks upon landing, completing their final flight mission. A static display area was set up at the ceremony site, showcasing RF-5E and F-5F aircraft along with historical mission equipment. A documentary film was screened, reviewing the aircraft’s role transitions and achievements within the air defense system since its commissioning, highlighting its diverse applications in reconnaissance, disaster monitoring, and technological development. The RF-5E, modified from the F-5 series since 1997, was equipped with optoelectronic reconnaissance equipment and tasked with homeland surveillance, disaster assessment, and intelligence collection. It also frequently supported natural disaster response operations. Although its operational mode differed from main combat aircraft, it remained a critical mission aircraft type for the Air Force. Since their commissioning, the F-5 series aircraft have served in training, combat, and reconnaissance roles, witnessing the Air Force’s development and technological transformation. Future tactical reconnaissance missions will be undertaken by RF-16 aircraft, continuing to provide real-time air intelligence to support ROC Armed Forces’ operational planning and decision-making.