MNA

President Lai Ching-te traveled to Taitung today to observe the “2026 National Disaster Prevention Day Large-Scale Earthquake Mobilization Exercise.” He commended the central and local governments for jointly completing the exercise and stated that the government will continue strengthening “whole-of-society defense resilience” through exercises, expanded training for disaster-prevention specialists, and deeper international cooperation. These efforts, he said, will comprehensively enhance disaster-response capabilities and protect people’s lives and property. Taiwan will also continue building resilience and making greater contributions to disaster prevention, emergency response, and humanitarian relief throughout the region and around the world. President Lai began his visit at Taitung Seashore Park, where he received briefings on the operations of the forward command post and the Taitung City Emergency Operations Center. He then observed exercises conducted by the Central Government Coordination Center, the Taitung Forward Command Post, the information and communications operations area, and emergency medical response teams. The President subsequently visited Taitung County Stadium to observe the establishment and operation of an emergency shelter before proceeding to the Fengtian Fire Station of the Taitung Battalion under the Taitung County Fire Department, where he reviewed exercises simulating conditions in a disaster-stricken area. In his remarks, President Lai noted that next week marks the 27th anniversary of the 1999 Jiji Earthquake and Taiwan’s National Disaster Prevention Day. He thanked participants who had traveled from across Taiwan and abroad to take part in the “large-scale earthquake mobilization exercise.” Over three consecutive days, participating units jointly responded to a challenging scenario involving a magnitude 7.3 earthquake under near-realistic simulated conditions in the southern East Rift Valley. The exercise also tested Taiwan’s ability to respond to a large-scale disaster, and President Lai expressed his appreciation for everyone’s dedication and hard work. President Lai stated that this year’s National Disaster Prevention Day exercise brought together more than 150 search-and-rescue and emergency medical personnel from 11 countries. 75 members of international observer delegations and representatives from 18 foreign missions in Taiwan were also present to exchange expertise. By training together during peacetime, participants can establish common procedures and build coordination and mutual understanding. When disaster strikes, these preparations enable a stronger and more effective response, allowing participants to help save lives anywhere in the world. President Lai added that “when the government is prepared, the private sector is capable, society has trust, and international partners support one another, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific become more resilient.” The President explained that this year’s exercise followed a “limited-notice, unscripted format” and simulated damage to critical infrastructure and the disruption of external assistance to test a range of response capabilities. Drawing on lessons from Typhoon Danas and the Matai’an Creek barrier-lake disaster last year, the exercise incorporated backup mechanisms for communications outages as well as the evacuation and sheltering of displaced residents, thereby strengthening disaster-response coordination between the central and local governments. President Lai emphasized that only by taking a pragmatic approach and continually pursuing improvement can Taiwan comprehensively enhance its disaster-response capabilities, protect lives and property, and maintain the normal functioning of society. This, he said, is the central objective of Taiwan’s “whole-of-society defense resilience” initiative. The President further stated that Taiwan’s special search-and-rescue teams have established a rotational duty system, enabling them to be placed on standby within four hours of a major disaster. Taiwan has both the capability and the willingness to work alongside international partners in humanitarian relief operations whenever the global community is in need. “Taiwan belongs to the world,” President Lai said. Taiwan is willing to learn from the world and share its experience in return. It will continue strengthening its resilience and contributing more to disaster prevention, emergency response, and humanitarian relief throughout the region and around the world. President Lai concluded by thanking the Taitung and Hualien county governments for organizing the exercise, as well as central government ministries and agencies, 19 city and county governments, the Armed Forces, telecommunications providers, the Tzu Chi Foundation, and all participating civic organizations. He again thanked Taiwan’s international partners for their support and expressed hope for greater cooperation and exchanges in the future. Also attending the exercise were Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an; National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu; National Security Council Advisor Liu Te-chin; Deputy Secretaries-General Lin Fei-fan and Lii Wen; Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng; Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung; Legislator Chen Ying; Taitung County Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih-hui; American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene; Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Marie-Louise Hannan; the Swedish Trade & Invest Council Representative Carl Michael Gräns; Singapore Trade Office in Taipei Representative Foo Teow Lee; and representatives of other foreign missions in Taiwan.

President Lai Ching-te presided over the “2026 Armed Forces Day and All-out Defense Education Day Awards Ceremony” today. He said the government would continue strengthening the Armed Forces’ combat capabilities and Taiwan’s overall defense resilience, advancing defense self-reliance, and caring for service members. He also thanked the Armed Forces for defending the homeland and all sectors of society for supporting national defense. The President called on everyone to stand united in safeguarding national security, democracy, freedom, and peace. President Lai was accompanied by Strategic Advisors to the Office of the President Huoh Shou-yeh, Lin Chen-yi, and Liu Jen-yuan; National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu; Deputy Secretary-General Lii Wen; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung; Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu; Chief of Army General Lu Kun-xiu; Chief of Navy Admiral Chiang Cheng-kuo; Chief of Air Force General Cheng Jung-feng; National Defense University President Admiral Tang Hua; and Friends of Armed Forces Association Chairman Huang Cheng-tsung. During the ceremony, the President presented awards to Outstanding Armed Forces Personnel, Exemplary Armed Forces Units, organizations and individuals recognized for outstanding contributions to all-out defense education, exemplary supporters of the Armed Forces, and exemplary reserve advisory cadres. The awards recognized their exceptional contributions to national defense development, all-out defense education, military support initiatives, and reserve affairs. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Armed Forces Day would be celebrated the following day, September 3. He said he was pleased to gather with Armed Forces personnel and extended his sincerest congratulations and gratitude to all award recipients, including outstanding personnel, exemplary units, and exceptional partners in all-out defense education, military support initiatives, and reserve affairs. Those honored today are outstanding representatives of the Armed Forces and wider society. However, every service member who defends the nation and its people deserves the public’s heartfelt respect and gratitude. President Lai said this year’s award-winning units demonstrated the missions and responsibilities undertaken by the Armed Forces in different roles. The Assault Helicopter Group of the Army Aviation 602nd Brigade is responsible for air assaults, rapid reinforcement, and the transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies. After Typhoon Ragasa devastated Hualien last year, the unit deployed helicopters to transport search-and-rescue personnel and equipment into the disaster area, exemplifying the Armed Forces’ commitment to defending the homeland and protecting the people. The Air Force’s 41st Tactical Fighter Group of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Wing has long performed air defense alert duties. Amid rapidly evolving conditions around the Taiwan Strait, its personnel maintain combat readiness day and night, making the unit an essential force in protecting Taiwan’s airspace. Tseng Chung-fu, chief advisor to the Southern Taitung County Advisory Group, has also provided longstanding support for national defense. Last year, he assisted the Armed Forces in establishing an artillery live-fire training range in Taimali, expanding the military’s training capacity. These achievements vividly demonstrate both the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting the people and society’s support for the military. They are also concrete examples of all-out defense in practice. President Lai also highlighted Marine Corps company commander Captain Tsai Yin-lan, an Outstanding Armed Forces Personnel award recipient. From becoming Taiwan’s seventh female combat frogman to working her way through the ranks to become an officer, she exemplifies the younger generation’s courage in pursuing their aspirations. The President thanked all award recipients for their contributions. He expressed hope that the ceremony would allow the public to see the Armed Forces’ efforts and achievements while helping more young people understand that wearing the uniform and defending the nation is a calling worthy of pride. President Lai noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the “All-out Defense Education Act.” Over the past two decades, all-out defense education has expanded beyond schools and government agencies into society, enabling more people to understand and support national defense and participate in strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience. Faced with rapidly changing international conditions and the continued expansion of Chinese authoritarianism, Taiwan must not only continue enhancing the Armed Forces’ combat capabilities but also ensure that both the government and society possess sufficient response capacity. President Lai said Han Kuang 42 Exercise, completed last month, focused on realistic combat conditions and validated capabilities including joint operations and dispersed deployment while continuing to strengthen overall defense resilience. He expressed his recognition and gratitude to all officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted personnel who participated in the exercise. The President emphasized that every additional measure of preparedness makes the nation safer. Only by continually strengthening defense and deterrence can Taiwan better safeguard national security and regional peace. Accordingly, Taiwan’s overall defense budget for next year will exceed NT$1 trillion for the first time, reaching NT$1.1225 trillion and remaining above 3 percent of GDP. This demonstrates Taiwan’s determination to strengthen its self-defense capabilities to the international community. The government will continue advancing defense self-reliance, developing the defense industry, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems, and enhancing Taiwan’s overall capacity to respond to future challenges. President Lai said people are at the heart of national defense capabilities. As the government supports national defense, it must also care for officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted personnel. From the administration of former President Tsai Ing-wen through President Lai’s tenure, the government has continued improving compensation for Armed Forces personnel. Last year, it approved increases to allowances for volunteer service members, combat units, tactical air control, electronic reconnaissance, and cyber operations. Drone units became eligible for the combat unit allowance in February this year. In July, the government also introduced Type III Combat Unit Allowance, providing an additional NT$4,000 per month to personnel serving in brigade-level and below units that provide combat service support. Conscripted officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted personnel serving in combat units are also eligible for the allowance. Additionally, the professional and supervisory allowances for military personnel, civil servants, and public school educators were each increased by NT$2,000 in July. A further 4% across-the-board pay raise will take effect next January, marking the government’s fifth pay increase for these personnel in 10 years. The “Xing’an Project” initiated by former President Tsai and the “Zhanxing Project” continued under President Lai are both intended to improve the Armed Forces’ living and training environments. The government is also strengthening childcare, family-care, and other forms of support so that service members can serve with peace of mind and concentrate on their missions. President Lai noted that the Armed Forces now enjoy considerable support from across society. Since July last year, six Taiwan-based airlines have offered military personnel priority boarding. In response to the government’s initiative, 640 brands and more than 20,000 retail locations are participating in this year’s corporate military appreciation campaign. The President thanked all businesses and sectors of society supporting the Armed Forces. He also expressed his gratitude to the military families present, emphasizing that their support is an indispensable part of Taiwan’s defense capabilities. President Lai concluded by stating that a nation’s true strength comes not only from advanced equipment but also from its people standing together in unity when challenges arise. When service members defend the nation, the government supports the Armed Forces, society places its trust in them, and the people cherish democracy and freedom, these combined strengths enable Taiwan to address any challenge. The President called on everyone in Taiwan to remain united in safeguarding national security and preserving democracy, freedom, and peace.

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.