MNA

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.