MNA

Vice Minister of National Defense for Armaments General Chung Shu-ming today chaired the 2026 selection meetings for the “Outstanding Contribution Award in All-out Defense Education” and the “Outstanding Armed Forces Personnel and Exemplary Units.” He encouraged panel members to uphold the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency, apply their professional expertise, and objectively select outstanding individuals and organizations for recognition of their contributions to all-out defense education and excellence in combat readiness and training. Both meetings were held at the Ministry’s Bo’ai Camp. At the selection meeting for the “Outstanding Contribution Award in All-out Defense Education,” Vice Minister Chung first presented certificates of appointment to the panel members, who then reviewed the individuals and organizations nominated by participating units. At the selection meeting for “Outstanding Armed Forces Personnel and Exemplary Units,” the panel evaluated personnel and units nominated following preliminary selection according to the established criteria. Once the results of both selections are formally approved, the selected individuals and organizations will be publicly recognized at the Ministry’s “2026 Armed Forces Day and All-out Defense Education Day Awards Ceremony.” On behalf of Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, Vice Minister Chung thanked the panel members for taking the time to participate. He expressed hope that they would select outstanding individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing all-out defense education, recognize their contributions to national defense, and continue supporting all-out defense education and major defense policies. Regarding the selection of “Outstanding Armed Forces Personnel and Exemplary Units,” Vice Minister Chung said the honorees represent the exceptional performance of Armed Forces personnel over the past year in combat readiness and training, military discipline, and other areas. Their selection also serves as important recognition of the dedication and hard work of frontline personnel and units. He therefore urged panel members to avoid preconceived judgments and ensure that those selected are truly worthy of serving as examples for the entire Armed Forces. Vice Minister Chung also encouraged relevant units to highlight the achievements of the selected personnel and units through a variety of publicity and media channels, showcasing their dedication to combat readiness and training and allowing their example to inspire others. At the same time, service members and units that performed exceptionally well but were not selected should also receive appropriate recognition and encouragement.

The Ministry of National Defense’s “2026 National Airsoft Shooting Competition, Northern Preliminary Round” opened today at Fu Hsing Kang College. Presided over by Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien, the event featured competitive airsoft shooting, close-quarters battle (CQB), and simulated battlefield scenarios. Twenty teams comprising 107 reservists from cities and counties across northern Taiwan participated. Military equipment displays and drone demonstrations also attracted nearly 10,000 visitors. The event aimed to deepen all-out defense education and strengthen whole-of-society defense resilience. Vice Minister Hsu presided over the opening ceremony at the National Defense University’s Fu Hsing Kang College campus. Attendees included National Security Council Advisors Huang Chung-yen and Liu Te-chin; Deputy Secretary-General Lii Wen; National Cultural Association of Taiwan Secretary-General Lee Hou-ching; Chief of Army General Lu Kun-xiu; All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Director-General Lieutenant General Liao Chien-shing; Reserve Command Commander Lieutenant General Yu Wen-chen; National Defense University Vice President Lieutenant General Liu Pei-chih; Sixth Army Corps Commander Lieutenant General Lien Chih-wei; Political Warfare Bureau Director-General Lieutenant General Shih Shun-wen; and local village and neighborhood chiefs. In his opening remarks, Vice Minister Hsu first expressed his sincere appreciation to the National Security Council and the organizing units, while paying his highest respects to all participating teams. He said the competition had been made possible by everyone’s collective effort and participation. Hsu explained that the airsoft shooting competition series was initiated at the President’s direction. Under the guidance of the National Security Council and with assistance from the Ministry of the Interior, education authorities, the National Cultural Association of Taiwan, and other organizations, the MND organized the event in partnership with the National Defense Education Association and Formosa Defense Vision. Taiwan’s national security is underpinned not only by its semiconductor and AI industries, but also by the many civil society organizations and businesses that support the country. Reservists and civil defense teams likewise play a vital role in strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience, Vice Minister Hsu noted. Hsu emphasized that the competition was more than a sporting event. It also served as an important platform for strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience. Competitive shooting helps participants develop concentration, judgment, mental resilience, and the ability to respond under pressure, while most importantly fostering teamwork. He added that the value of the competition lay not merely in winning or losing, but in exchanging experience, learning from one another, and growing together. He encouraged participants to uphold the principles of “safety first, fair competition, and friendship through shooting,” follow the rules, respect the judges’ decisions, and demonstrate good sportsmanship. Regardless of the results, every participant who embraced the challenge and gave their all deserving recognition as a winner. Vice Minister Hsu and the attending guests then conducted the opening ceremony and fired the ceremonial first shots. He subsequently visited exhibits presented by the police, fire services, reservists, and the Armed Forces to learn more about their displays. He also thanked participating service members for their hard work and presented an additional food allowance to the units involved. Held in conjunction with the opening of Fu Hsing Kang College campus to the public, the event also featured military equipment displays, drone demonstrations, and interactive all-out defense education exhibits. Through these diverse displays and direct public engagement, the Ministry hopes to deepen all-out defense education, promote whole-of-society defense resilience, and put into practice the conviction to “preserve peace through strength and defend our homeland through action.”

Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien presided today over the Republic of China 2026 “All-Out Defense Education – Social Education” Seed Instructor Training Workshop. On behalf of Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, he welcomed participants from various sectors and encouraged them to strengthen teaching capabilities through professional study, expand the foundation for promoting all-out defense education, build consensus among the public, and enhance Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience. The workshop was held this morning at the Bo’ai Camp. All-out defense affairs personnel recommended by various county and city governments, along with scholars from civil society, participated in the training. The curriculum covered topics such as “National Defense Policy,” “International Situation,” “Media Literacy,” and “All-Out Defense.” Experts and scholars including Director Su Tzu-yun and Researcher Lee Che-chuan from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research were invited to deliver special lectures and analyses. In addition, the Department of Strategic Planning explained the “Special Act on Defense Procurement,” enabling participants to understand its importance to overall national defense. Vice Minister Hsu stated that, facing the future task of promoting all-out defense education, seed instructors had to clearly convey national defense concepts to the public, explaining “why we fought and for whom we fought” — that was, to safeguard the homeland, protect their way of life, and ensure the safety of the 23 million people in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, while clearly recognizing the current security challenges. Vice Minister Hsu pointed out that the war in Ukraine had shown that national defense did not rely solely on military combat power; the key had lain in the will of the entire population to defend the country. Only through the joint participation of the whole society could overall defense strength be formed. He also emphasized that war depended not only on weapons and equipment but also required strong will and resilience to effectively respond to various challenges. Vice Minister Hsu further explained that the forms of modern warfare had evolved rapidly, and unmanned systems had become a key element in operations. Taiwan had possessed advantages in the relevant industry supply chain, particularly holding a critical position in the “non-red supply chain,” and should continue to strengthen development capabilities. At the same time, as Taiwan had been located at the core of the First Island Chain, it had needed to enhance overall defense capabilities in response to changes in the regional situation. Regarding the special defense budget, Vice Minister Hsu pointed out that the relevant planning had been carefully formulated based on overall operational requirements and had covered areas such as strike firepower, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, command and control operations, and sustained combat capabilities. He emphasized that all military buildup elements had to be constructed holistically and work in coordination to effectively enhance national defense combat power. Vice Minister Hsu stressed that the allocation of the special budget had been based on overall national defense development needs and coordinated with domestic industry capabilities. Through stable planning and long-term investment, it had strengthened defense self-reliance and supply chain resilience, ensuring the continuous advancement of military buildup and readiness.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is holding a two-day all-out defense education campaign in collaboration with Feng Chia University today. This morning, the Army Aviation 602nd Brigade specially dispatched AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to land at the sports field in the university, allowing the public to experience up close the powerful wind and sound of the helicopters. Through the display of military equipment, visitors of all ages were able to experience the national defense first-hand, understand it, thereupon foster support for nationwide defense. During the campaign, in addition to dynamic flight demonstrations of these two types of helicopters, various active military equipment was showcased, including the CM-32/33 Armored Vehicle, field broadcast vehicle, TOW Missile Carrier, and the field ambulance which is firstly open to public. These displays highlighted the military’s diverse mobility and rescue capabilities. At the same time, multiple interactive experience and recruitment booths were set up on-site, allowing visitors to wear combat gear, try on chemical protection suits, and participate in psychological warfare unit puzzle challenges and other mini-games. These activities provided attendees with memorable and novel experiences, helping to bridge the gap between the military and civilians. Major Chiu, the team leader responsible for the helicopter landing mission, stated that upon receiving the assignment, he immediately started the planning of all flight safety details and led his team to conduct site inspections and simulated test flights to ensure a flawless mission. This was the first time a helicopter landing was performed on the Feng Chia University campus. Major Chiu emphasized that under the premise of ensuring flight and public safety, the event also aimed to showcase the hard work and training achievements of the R.O.C. Armed Forces, with a hope that younger generation interested in serving the nation would consider joining the Armed Forces to contribute to the defense of their homeland. In addition, the "Taiwan International Model Show – Taichung Weei Cup and Science Fantasy" was held simultaneously at Feng Chia University, featuring exquisite models across 11 categories, including military vehicles, military aircraft, ships, and science fiction. The MND also established the "MND Special Prize for All-out Defense Education " to recognize participants whose creations highlight military equipment, helping to raise public awareness of the armed forces.