MNA

Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien visited Taipei Main Station this morning to view the displays at the Executive Yuan’s “Safeguarding Our Homeland, Sharing in the Honor: A Feast for Heroes, Savoring Home and Honoring the Nation” event. On behalf of Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, he presented gifts to participating service members and thanked them for their hard work. To recognize Armed Forces personnel for their longstanding dedication to defending the nation and safeguarding the homeland, the Executive Yuan is holding the four-day event from September 3 in the multipurpose exhibition area on the first floor of Taipei Main Station. The event combines a military appreciation fair, displays of Armed Forces equipment, screenings of military promotional videos, and themed interactive activities. Members of the public are invited to show their respect and gratitude through concrete action to service members who remain steadfast at their posts. For the event, the Ministry of National Defense is displaying models of equipment used by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Items presented in rotation over the four days include an Army Special Forces miniature assault vehicle, a Navy twin-mounted Stinger missile launcher, models of three types of Air Force fighter aircraft, and a Military Police Indian Challenger heavyweight motorcycle. These displays give the public an opportunity to view military equipment up close and learn about the distinctive characteristics of each service. During the event, service members and their families may receive a 20 percent discount throughout the fair by presenting a military identification card, service identification card, or military dependent identification card. Visitors whose names contain any of the Chinese characters “九, 三, 軍, 人, 節, 陸, 海, 空, or 憲,” or a homophone of any of these characters, may receive a 10 percent discount upon presenting identification. The event also features prize drawings for purchases of NT$1,000 or more, limited daily gifts for completing designated social media check-in activities, honor guard performances, national defense quizzes, Armed Forces-themed digital photo booths, and message boards for expressing appreciation to the military. Through these interactive experiences, visitors can learn more about the Armed Forces and convey their best wishes to the service members safeguarding the homeland.

Ahead of Armed Forces Day on September 3, the Armed Forces Personnel Savings Division (AFPSD) held the 510th Military Savings Prize Bond drawing today, together with a special Armed Forces Day prize drawing. Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien served as the guest conducting the drawing, which featured an additional NT$1 million special prize to reward service members who have long supported the prize bond program. The event also promoted sound financial management and encouraged personnel to develop prudent saving habits and plan their finances carefully. The drawing was held at AFPSD this morning. Witnessed by Comptroller Bureau Director-General Lieutenant General Hsieh Chi-hsien, Financial Center Chief Financial Officer Major General Chen Chi, and oversight representatives from the Financial Supervisory Commission and the three services, the drawings for the NT$1 million special prize, first prize, second prize, and other prizes were conducted. The winning numbers will be published on AFPSD’s official website and Facebook page for service members to check. In his remarks, Vice Minister Hsu noted that Armed Forces Day was approaching. On behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, he expressed his sincerest respect and gratitude to all Armed Forces personnel who remain steadfast and conscientious at their posts, as well as to the military families who have long supported them. He also commended AFPSD for remaining true to its founding mission of “serving the Armed Forces and caring for service members.” The Division provides secure financial management options and, through Military Savings Prize Bonds, which offer both “principal repayment at maturity” and “opportunities to win prizes,” helps service members develop sound saving habits. Vice Minister Hsu noted that modern society offers an increasingly diverse range of investment and financial management options, accompanied by growing risks and ever-evolving forms of fraud. AFPSD’s reliable savings and financial management services provide service members with an important means of accumulating wealth and planning for the future. He encouraged service members to make effective use of these resources, develop sound financial management practices, and carefully plan their personal and household finances to establish a solid foundation for the future. AFPSD said service members seeking information about its financial services may contact their nearest regional financial affairs unit. Information is also available through AFPSD’s official website and Facebook page.

President Lai Ching-te visited Kinmen this morning to preside over a memorial ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of victory in the August 23 Artillery Battle. He expressed his gratitude to those who fought in the battle for their courage and sacrifice, which laid the foundation for 68 years of peace across the Taiwan Strait. He said the government would continue strengthening and investing in national defense in the spirit of “not yielding a single inch of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, or Matsu,” working together to defend the nation, safeguard democracy, and pursue peace and prosperity for generations to come. After arriving in Kinmen, President Lai first visited Taiwushan Cemetery to preside over the memorial ceremony. He offered incense, flowers, and ceremonial tributes to the fallen service members. Following the reading of the memorial address, he led participating officials and attendees in three bows, expressing profound remembrance and gratitude for the service members’ selfless devotion to the nation. President Lai then visited Shenfenggang Camp to meet with troops and inspect the operation of its medical building. He noted that, after taking office, former President Tsai Ing-wen launched the “Xing’an Project” to systematically renovate aging Army, Navy, and Air Force barracks. The project included the construction of a combined medical and supply building at Shenfenggang Camp in Kinmen, providing modern living quarters that were completed and occupied last year. President Lai noted that after taking office, he built upon the “Xing’an Project” by introducing the “Zhanxing Project,” which continues the renovation of aging barracks and provides Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel with better living and training environments. At noon, President Lai attended a luncheon with veterans of the battle and the bereaved families of the martyrs. In his remarks, he said he had come to Kinmen on behalf of the people of the whole country with a profound sense of gratitude. He expressed his sincerest respect and appreciation to the heroes who, regardless of ethnicity or when they had arrived in Taiwan, stood united, fought courageously, repelled communist totalitarian aggression, and devoted themselves to defending Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu and safeguarding the Republic of China. President Lai also reminded the public that “even when the world is at peace, forgetting war invites peril.” For 68 years, China’s authoritarian forces have never ceased their ambition for external expansion. Taiwan must therefore never relax its resolve to unite in defending national sovereignty and safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait. Only by upholding the principle of “not yielding a single inch of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, or Matsu” and continually strengthening and investing in national defense can peace be assured. The victory in the August 23 Artillery Battle, he said, offers the clearest demonstration that “peace is secured through strength.” President Lai emphasized that Taiwan would continue strengthening its defense capabilities, advancing defense self-reliance, conducting overseas military procurement, developing emerging military technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones, and establishing a comprehensive all-out defense system. He also noted that next year’s overall defense spending, including the annual and special budgets, would exceed NT$1 trillion for the first time, reaching NT$1.1225 trillion and remaining above 3 percent of GDP. This demonstrates to the world Taiwan’s determination to strengthen its self-defense capabilities. President Lai added that, in addition to strengthening military capabilities, the government has continued improving compensation for Armed Forces personnel. Since last year, the government has successively increased the volunteer military service allowance, combat unit allowance, tactical air control allowance, electronic reconnaissance, and cyberwarfare allowance. Drone units became eligible for the combat unit allowance in February this year. In July, a Type III Combat Unit Allowance was introduced in consideration of operational requirements and the specialized nature of military duties, providing eligible personnel with an additional NT$4,000 per month. 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% salary increase will take effect next January. This will be the fifth pay raise for these personnel over the past decade, spanning the administrations of former President Tsai and President Lai, demonstrating the government’s support for public-sector personnel. The President emphasized that all these measures are intended to support every service member safeguarding the nation by providing more abundant defense resources and more comprehensive compensation and benefits. He also expressed hope that the ruling and opposition parties and people throughout Taiwan would uphold the spirit of military-civilian unity, resistance to communism, and defense of Taiwan demonstrated during the August 23 Artillery Battle. He called on them to support the defense budget and measures that care for Armed Forces personnel, thereby laying a stronger and more stable foundation for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung attended cross-party caucus negotiations today on the draft “Special Act for Unmanned Systems.” He said unmanned capabilities are a critical component of the Armed Forces’ force development and combat readiness and expressed hope that opposition parties would carefully reconsider the proposed annual budget ceiling of NT$40 billion so that Taiwan’s overall defense resilience can be strengthened. The Legislative Yuan’s Economics, Foreign Affairs and National Defense, and Finance Committees conducted caucus negotiations today on 14 proposals, including the “draft Act for the Development and Procurement of Indigenous Defense Unmanned Vehicle Technologies.” As the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach agreement on the legislation’s title, competent authority, and sources of funding, all 14 proposals reserved and referred to the plenary for further cross-party negotiations. Minister Koo said the KMT’s version defines unmanned vehicles as systems operated by remote control, autonomous control, or other means in the air, on the water’s surface, underwater, on the ground, or in other environments. Their missions include surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition, strikes, logistics transport, communications relay, electronic warfare, decoy operations, mine clearance and laying, and other tasks. Article 16 of the proposal would allocate NT$40 billion annually through the regular budget process for six consecutive years, for a total of NT$240 billion. Minister Koo noted that the 2027 budget already allocates NT$31 billion for unmanned capabilities through military procurement, contracted production, and commercial procurement. This figure does not include the coastal-surveillance, coastal-strike, and one-way attack unmanned surface vessels proposed under the special act. If the special act passes, an additional NT$13.8 billion would be allocated in 2026 and NT$42.1 billion in 2027, for a combined total of NT$55.9 billion, exceeding the proposed NT$40 billion ceiling. Minister Koo emphasized that the KMT version would place all remotely operated unmanned systems used for surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition, strikes, logistics transportation, communications relay, electronic warfare, mine clearance and laying, and other missions, including aerial and ground systems, under the same NT$40 billion ceiling. Such a restriction would prevent the Ministry from developing an effective force structure for unmanned capabilities. He earnestly urged the KMT caucus to reconsider the Armed Forces’ critical need for these capabilities so that budgetary constraints would not prevent their effective employment. Regarding the proposed six-year funding period, Minister Koo added that the Ministry would procure systems annually rather than purchase six years’ worth of surveillance and reconnaissance, strike drones, and small unmanned attack platforms in a single acquisition. Through the relevant committee mechanisms, the Ministry would also require each year’s specifications to improve upon those of the preceding year to maintain the pace of iterative innovation in unmanned systems.

President Lai Ching-te visited the 234th Combined Arms Brigade at Ching Chuan Kang South Camp in Taichung today, where he met with personnel who had participated in the field-training phase of Han Kuang Exercise. He commended the Armed Forces’ training achievements and thanked service members for their dedication. The President announced that a new NT$4,000 “Type III Combat Unit Allowance” would take effect from July 1. He said the measure reflects the nation’s respect for military professionalism and represents an important investment in strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities. He expressed hope that every service member safeguarding the country would feel the nation’s support and recognition. After arriving at Ching Chuan Kang Camp this afternoon, President Lai first watched a documentary on the field drills conducted by units in the Taichung area. He then listened to personnel share their experiences from Han Kuang 42 Exercise and presented a group award. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Han Kuang 42 Exercise had concluded only last Friday. He said he was pleased to visit the 234th Brigade and hear six service members share their experiences. The President said their accounts clearly conveyed the demands of prolonged, high-intensity training. At the same time, he could sense how much they had gained from the exercise and the strong sense of accomplishment it had given them. Members of the public who initially complained about the exercise ultimately gave service members a thumbs-up and praised the Armed Forces. These responses reflected the results of their regular training, and the President thanked all personnel for their efforts. President Lai expressed the nation’s gratitude for the service members’ hard work and dedication. Every time the Armed Forces make thorough preparations, the country becomes stronger. A stronger country is more secure and contributes further to regional peace and stability. He said he has always firmly believed that national security requires a strong national defense, and that a strong national defense depends on service members who are respected and free from concerns about their own and their families’ well-being. Since taking office, President Lai has continued adjusting compensation for Armed Forces personnel. Last year, he approved increases to five allowances covering volunteer military service allowance, combat unit allowance, tactical air control allowance, electronic reconnaissance allowance, and cyberwarfare allowance. In February this year, he also approved the inclusion of drone units among those eligible for the combat unit allowance. The President further announced that, following a comprehensive assessment by the Ministry of National Defense and in consideration of operational requirements and the specialized nature of military duties, a “Type III Combat Unit Allowance” would be introduced effective July 1 in addition to the existing Type I and Type II allowances. Personnel serving in units at the brigade level below that sustain combat operations will receive an additional NT$4,000 per month. Effective from the same date, conscripted officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted personnel serving in combat units will also receive the combat unit allowance on the same basis as volunteer service members. President Lai added that, in addition to the continuing adjustment of military duty allowances, 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% salary increase will take effect next January. This will mark the fifth pay raise for these personnel during the administrations of former President Tsai Ing-wen and President Lai. President Lai emphasized that the government’s successive adjustments to salaries, duty allowances, and other benefits are intended to create a more reasonable system that reflects service members’ responsibilities, risks, and professional expertise. Compensation should differ according to duties and levels of responsibility while aligning with units’ missions and personnel requirements. Improved compensation represents the nation’s respect for military professionalism and an important investment in strengthening national defense. The President expressed hope that every service member defending the country would feel the nation’s support and recognition and be able to care for themselves and their families while remaining focused on combat readiness and training. The government will remain the Armed Forces’ strongest source of support by continuing to expand defense resources, improve service conditions, and enhance compensation and benefits. Also attending were National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung; National Security Council Advisor Liu Te-chin; National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lii Wen; Army Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Li Jung-hua; 10th Army Corps Commander Lieutenant General Shao Chih-chun; and 234th Combined Arms Brigade Commander Major General Wei Tsung-chih.

President Lai Ching-te visited the Fourth Theater of Operations this morning to inspect littoral-strike and coastal-defense drills conducted as part of the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Exercise.” He encouraged Armed Forces and Coast Guard personnel to respond proactively and strengthen their coordination during the exercise so that they are prepared for every contingency. The President first arrived at Haijiao Camp to inspect an “emergency preparation for war” sortie drill. He boarded Kuang Hua VI-class Missile Boat No. 64, where, from the bridge, he received briefings on the exercise scenario and pre-departure preparations. He also addressed Navy and Coast Guard personnel over the vessel’s public-address system. President Lai then proceeded to the Chaishan combat-readiness road, where he boarded a command vehicle for an overview of the “littoral-strike” concept. He subsequently visited Taoziyuan Beach to inspect a “coastal-defense” drill and receive briefings on the equipment carried by special operations forces and the battlefield situation. Speaking over the vessel’s public-address system, President Lai said he was on the bridge of Missile Boat No. 64, whose crew had received orders to make an emergency sortie and conduct a littoral-strike mission. He explained that the Han Kuang Exercise uses “actual personnel, locations, timing, equipment, and operations” to test command coordination, immediate combat response, and homeland defense capabilities. President Lai said that in the face of external threats and challenges, the government continues working to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities and provide the fullest possible support to Armed Forces and Coast Guard personnel. He encouraged them to respond proactively and strengthen operational coordination throughout the exercise so that they can address any situation and safeguard national sovereignty and public safety with credible combat capabilities. Also attending were National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung; Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling; National Security Council Advisor Liu Te-chin; Deputy Secretary-General Lii Wen; Chief of Navy Admiral Chiang Cheng-kuo; and Fourth Theater of Operations Commander Lieutenant General Liu Wei-hsin. The Navy Command also livestreamed the emergency combat-readiness sortie, littoral-strike, and coastal-defense drills today. Professional commentary introduced the exercise events, weapons and equipment, and tactical employment, giving the public a better understanding of the Navy’s combat-readiness preparations and defensive operations. The broadcast also promoted all-out defense awareness and demonstrated the Armed Forces’ firm resolve to defend Taiwan’s maritime frontiers and national sovereignty.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung appeared before the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee today to deliver a special report on how the Armed Forces are strengthening service members’ morale and psychological resilience in response to escalating enemy threats and gray-zone activities. Minister Koo began by noting that China continues to employ gray-zone harassment, cognitive warfare, disinformation, recruitment, and infiltration in an attempt to influence service members’ perceptions and undermine unit cohesion. Morale and psychological resilience have therefore become indispensable foundations of force development and combat readiness. Guided by the principle of “reflecting the threat environment and supporting preparation for war,” the Ministry will continue strengthening service members’ will to resist the enemy, awareness of enemy threats, and unit morale to ensure combat effectiveness. Political Warfare Bureau Director-General Lieutenant General Shih Shun-wen further explained that the Armed Forces currently build morale and psychological resilience through four principal areas: unit education, recruit education, reserve refresher training, and military school education. At the unit level, Chu-Kuang Day instruction, security and counterintelligence briefings, calculated risk-taking and battlefield stress-resilience courses, and mental health education are used to strengthen service members’ will to fight and reinforce their psychological defenses. For recruit education, a General National Defense Education Course has been added to initial military training. In 2024, the Ministry published the Beginning Your Military Service teaching materials, covering Armed Forces history, military ethics, Chinese cognitive warfare, human rights in the military, information security, and counterintelligence. Recruits receive 16 hours of instruction during initial training. A multimedia database has also been established on the General National Defense Education website for use by recruit training units. To help reservists understand current defense policies and enemy threats while strengthening their morale and patriotic commitment, the Ministry published the Mobilized and Combat-Ready teaching materials in 2024. Reservists receive five hours of instruction during refresher training, supported by educational videos from a multimedia database to improve the quality of the program. Military school education includes five political education courses totaling 12 creditswithin the common general curriculum. Subjects include the Constitution and Founding Principles of the Republic of China, the History and Development of the Republic of China, and Studies on Mainland China. These courses are intended to develop military officers’ understanding of democracy and constitutional government, strengthen cadets’ awareness of enemy threats and military ethics, and cultivate their ability to understand both themselves and their adversaries. Lieutenant General Shih emphasized that morale education and psychological resilience have become important strategic foundations for building sustained combat capabilities and whole-of-society defense resilience. The Ministry will continue refining its educational methods and content by strengthening Chu-Kuang Day instruction, General National Defense Education, security and counterintelligence education, battlefield stress training, and psychological resilience training. These efforts will be integrated into routine education, combat-readiness preparation, exercise and training evaluation, and threat awareness education to foster among service members a clear understanding of friend and foe, a strong sense of national identity, and a shared will to defend the country.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung appeared before the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee this morning to deliver a special report and answer legislators’ questions. Speaking to the media beforehand, Minister Koo said training is the foundation of combat power. The Armed Forces will make comprehensive preparations and continue training rigorously and consistently to strengthen force development and combat readiness. He also expressed hope for greater public support. Asked about the focus of the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Exercise” and Taiwan-U.S. cooperation, Minister Koo described the field exercise as the culminating validation of the Han Kuang exercise series. Beginning with computer-assisted war games, namely command-post exercises, and progressing through the Rapid Response Exercise, the Joint Defense Exercise, and the Han Kuang field exercise, each stage employs realistic, scenario-driven but unscripted training. Continuous scenario injects require units to respond as events unfold, testing commanders’ judgment and the orders they issue. Regarding Taiwan-U.S. military exchanges, Minister Koo said the Ministry draws on the U.S. military’s experience in realistic training to enhance the Armed Forces’ operational capabilities. Cooperation with friendly partners also strengthens Taiwan’s overall force-development and combat-readiness efforts. Asked about the 2027 defense budget and new unmanned ground systems, Minister Koo replied that the Ministry formulates its budget in consideration of enemy threats, defensive operational requirements, and the government’s overall fiscal capacity. Defense spending will target 3% of GDP, with the Executive Yuan to make a coordinated announcement at a later date. Responding to reports that China was harassing Taiwan’s surrounding waters and airspace under the pretext of “joint combat-readiness patrols” as the Han Kuang Exercise began, Minister Koo said the Ministry has contingency plans in place for continued PLA activities around the Taiwan Strait during the exercise. Such activities will not interrupt the exercise, and all training events will proceed as planned. Asked about Japan’s recently released defense white paper, Minister Koo said the report describes the threat from China as “an unprecedentedly significant strategic challenge” to Japan and a matter of serious concern. Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific are of vital importance. The Ministry will continue working with friendly partners to strengthen intelligence exchanges and collective deterrence. Taiwan will also increase its defense budget and fulfill its responsibility to defend the country.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said in a recent media interview that, in the face of China’s escalating military threats, Taiwan will strengthen its self-defense capabilities while deepening security cooperation with like-minded countries to create collective deterrence. The Ministry of National Defense is also advancing programs for the domestic production of unmanned systems, counter-drone capabilities, and the “Taiwan Dome,” using layered defense and intelligence fusion to enhance Taiwan’s overall defense capabilities. Minister Koo recently sat down for interviews with the Central News Agency and other media outlets, accompanied by Vice Chief of the General Staff (Executive) General Huang Chih-wei, Director-General of the Department of Strategic Planning Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning Lieutenant General Hou Chia-lun. During the interviews, he responded to questions on regional security, security cooperation, defense self-reliance, and unmanned systems. Addressing security in the Indo-Pacific, Minister Koo said countries should increase defense spending, strengthen their self-defense capabilities, expand training, and bolster their military capabilities. Together, these efforts can create collective deterrence against any attempt to unilaterally alter peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion, requiring China to consider the potential responses of both Taiwan’s Armed Forces and other countries in the region before taking such action. Minister Koo noted that the waters east of Taiwan are also vital sea lines of communication for Japan and South Korea. Should the regional security environment undergo a major change, Taiwan would not be the only country required to confront and address the consequences. Regarding Japan’s concept of a “survival-threatening situation,” Minister Koo said Japan is itself facing pressure from Chinese gray-zone activities and joint Chinese-Russian patrols. If Japan determines that circumstances have reached the threshold of a survival-threatening situation, whether it exercises its right of self-defense is a decision for the Japanese government to make based on its own assessment. Turning to Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation, Minister Koo stressed that cooperation extends far beyond the arms sales visible to the public and encompasses a broad range of areas. Personnel seen participating in exchanges during exercises and training activities represent only a small part of the overall relationship. The Armed Forces will continue drawing lessons from the operational experience of friendly partners and adapting them to Taiwan’s defense requirements, the threats it faces, and PLA tactics and methods. These lessons will inform adjustments to Taiwan’s own tactics, techniques, exercises, and training to enhance its defensive capabilities. On defense self-reliance, Minister Koo said Taiwan possesses highly flexible manufacturing capabilities. Going forward, Taiwan will integrate expertise from various countries in defense industries and emerging technologies while excluding supply chains that pose security concerns, including Chinese flight-control systems and communications modules. To this end, the Ministry has proposed a NT$210 billion special budget for unmanned systems, focusing on coastal surveillance and reconnaissance drones, coastal attack drones, and small one-way attack unmanned surface vessels. Through sustained, large-scale demand from the Armed Forces, the Ministry hopes to encourage domestic manufacturers to invest and establish a comprehensive production chain at scale that is free from China-linked supply chains. On counter-drone capabilities, Minister Koo noted that a wide range of soft-kill and hard-kill options are available, including electronic jamming, lasers, high-power microwave systems, automated gun turrets, and various interceptors. The Armed Forces will deploy appropriate countermeasures based on unit echelon, threat type, and cost-effectiveness. Technologies that have reached sufficient maturity will be advanced through formal acquisition programs or small-batch procurement, while the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) will continue related research and development. Counter-drone capabilities must also be integrated into the broader air-defense and fire-coordination architecture so that the most efficient countermeasure can be assigned according to the nature of each threat. Asked about progress on the “Strong Bow” missile and the “Taiwan Dome,” Minister Koo said the Strong Bow missile has completed testing and evaluation and will be included in the relevant budget. The Taiwan Dome, meanwhile, is intended to establish a layered defense encompassing capabilities against ballistic missiles, combat aircraft, long-range fires, and unmanned systems. The Armed Forces will integrate U.S.-made and domestically developed systems, enhance the capabilities of various sensors, and fuse the intelligence and data they provide. The most appropriate effector can then be assigned according to the nature of the threat, improving the efficiency of fires across the overall air-defense architecture. Asked about weapons and equipment acquisition, Minister Koo said future procurement will emphasize mobility, survivability, and operational flexibility, while also reducing the identifiability of military assets and employing a diverse range of platforms to perform missions. Director-General of the Department of Strategic Planning Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi added that the Armed Forces have moved away from the former mindset of simply “buying what is available.” Systems and platforms are now evaluated according to their suitability for the defense of Taiwan and Penghu, with dual-use, military, and civilian platforms all considered in force-development planning. Regarding legislative review of the special budget for unmanned systems, Minister Koo said the Ministry of National Defense continues to hope that the Executive Yuan’s NT$210 billion proposal will be approved and will maintain dialogue with the Legislative Yuan. If the Executive Yuan’s version does not pass, the relevant programs would have to return to the annual budget process. However, he cautioned against placing all categories of unmanned systems, including aerial, surface, ground, and underwater platforms, along with testing facilities and industrial development expenditures, under a single NT$40 billion annual ceiling, as doing so could constrain future capability development and force-development flexibility. Minister Koo added that, beyond the unmanned systems and Strong Bow missile programs already discussed, the Ministry is continuing to advance programs involving Rui Yuan UAVs, counter-drone systems, ammunition production, and Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) capabilities. A supplementary budget is also being prepared. The Ministry will continue proposing the defense funding required under its joint operations plans, capability-development priorities, and actual operational requirements to strengthen Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry and overall defense capabilities.

With the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Live Exercise” set to begin soon, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said in a recent media interview that this year’s exercise will have higher-echelon units play the role of the “opposing force” and continuously inject unscripted scenarios based on the latest patterns of threats posed by China. The approach is intended to strengthen commanders’ ability at all levels to respond to changing circumstances and exercise decentralized command and control. The Armed Forces have also shifted away from the previous concept of seeking “a decisive battle at the shoreline” toward “multi-domain denial,” while adjustments to the force structure and more precise mobilization are being used to build sustained operational capability. Minister Koo recently sat down for interviews with the Central News Agency and other media outlets, accompanied by Vice Chief of the General Staff (Executive) General Huang Chih-wei, Director-General of the Department of Strategic Planning Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning Lieutenant General Hou Chia-lun. During the interviews, he responded to questions on realistic training in the Han Kuang Exercise, operational resilience, force structure, and precision mobilization. Addressing efforts to make this year’s Han Kuang Exercise more realistic, Minister Koo said, “Training can always be improved.” Higher-echelon units will serve as the “opposing force,” injecting unscripted scenarios in real time in response to developments during the exercise. This will train commanders at every level to understand their higher headquarters’ intent as well as their own missions. Even in a worst-case scenario in which command centers are destroyed or contact with higher command is lost, units down to the company, platoon, and squad levels must still be able to continue carrying out their combat missions. Vice Chief of the General Staff (Executive) General Huang Chih-wei noted that corresponding conflict scenarios will be incorporated into every phase of the exercise, including scenarios involving lawfare, cognitive warfare, and gray-zone activities based on the latest patterns of threats posed by China. Minister Koo further explained that these scenarios are not devised in isolation, but are based on assessments of the threat environment and joint operations plans. Units at all levels will continually be presented with changing situations requiring them to adapt, ensuring that every service member clearly understands the mission and can put decentralized command and control into practice. Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning Lieutenant General Hou Chia-lun said the Armed Forces have transformed their approach to realistic training. Instead of moving according to a predetermined schedule to designated locations to carry out preplanned tasks, training now incorporates existing key military positions and facilities as well as current battlefield conditions, with unscripted scenarios continually expanding the scope of the exercise. At the same time, the Armed Forces have shifted their strategic thinking from seeking a “decisive battle at the shoreline” toward “multi-domain denial.” Defense operations plans are being revised accordingly to incorporate the concept of overall defense resilience. Responding to public interest in the Armed Forces’ ability to sustain operational capability, Minister Koo stressed that Taiwan does not plan on the assumption that its forces must fight for a prescribed number of days. The fundamental objective is to ensure that any full-scale Chinese invasion fails. Exercise training will extend from the preservation of frontline combat power to operations in depth, progressively testing sustained combat operations through different phases. Preparations also encompass logistical resupply, personnel replacements, combat-power regeneration, and cross-regional maneuver, all integrated with whole-of-society defense resilience. On force structure, Minister Koo said recruitment targets for the volunteer force have been met and overall personnel numbers are trending upward. The Armed Forces will continue to build up overall manpower through the dual-track system of volunteer and compulsory military service. Next year, the first cohort subject to one-year compulsory military service will graduate from university, with approximately 30,000 conscripts expected to enter service. They will undergo a complete training progression covering basic training, home-station training, base training, and joint operations training before gradually reinforcing frontline combat units, garrison brigades, and reserve forces. After completing their service, reservists are expected to be called up for 14 days of refresher training annually, replacing the previous schedule of 14 days once every two years. This will enable them to rapidly regain combat proficiency upon mobilization and implement the principle of “returning personnel to their original wartime assignments.” Minister Koo added that the Armed Forces will review combat-readiness indicators brigade by brigade and battalion by battalion, including personnel levels, equipment readiness, training, and logistics. This will enable more precise assessments of each unit’s organization, specialist skills, and requirements for replacing personnel and materiel lost through combat or attrition. Civil-military integration and mechanisms for mobilizing manpower and material resources will also be incorporated to improve the precision of reserve management and mobilization. Former service members who acquire highly specialized skills in the civilian sector after leaving the military will also be incorporated into the mobilization management system and, when necessary, may be specifically selected for assignments based on their expertise. The resumption of selection programs for reserve officers and noncommissioned officers will help replenish junior leadership positions in garrison and reserve units. For highly specialized Navy and Air Force positions involving aviation, ships, logistics, and other technical fields, the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency will consolidate the requirements of the three services and maintain an accurate picture of veterans possessing the necessary expertise. Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, Director-General of the Department of Strategic Planning, said this year’s Han Kuang Exercise will also incorporate large-scale medical resilience preparations and the mobilization and integration of defense industries to validate sustained combat and mobilization readiness. These activities will test the integration of medical, logistical, and industrial capacity with the Armed Forces’ ability to sustain operations, further strengthening their capacity to respond to a complex battlefield environment and enhancing overall defense resilience.