MNA

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung accompanied Premier Cho Jung-tai to the Legislative Yuan today for the Executive Yuan’s policy report. Speaking to reporters before the session, Minister Koo stated that the newly procured F-16V fighter aircraft are progressing through production, with some having already passed the relevant tests. The Ministry of National Defense will continue coordinating closely with the U.S. program office on subsequent delivery plans. Minister Koo added that amid China’s persistent military threats against Taiwan, the Armed Forces will make all necessary combat readiness preparations based on warning indicators and the posture of the People’s Liberation Army to respond effectively to potential contingencies. Regarding the delivery of the first batch of newly procured F-16Vs, Minister Koo stated that the aircraft are proceeding through the production lines and that some have already passed the relevant tests. The Ministry will work with the relevant U.S. program office to plan subsequent deliveries while continuing close coordination with the United States on the aircraft’s flight schedule to Taiwan. Responding to public concern over the integration of the newly procured F-16Vs’ electronic warfare systems, Minister Koo clarified that there are no “ballast weights,” as some reports have claimed. Software and hardware testing for the electronic warfare systems is proceeding in accordance with established project milestones. The systems must subsequently be integrated with the new aircraft, and all related work remains on schedule. Asked about the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Minister Koo emphasized that tChina has never abandoned its intention to annex Taiwan by force regardless of which political party or leader is in power. The Armed Forces will maintain a high level of combat readiness based on relevant warning indicators and the posture of the People’s Liberation Army, enabling them to respond to all possible scenarios.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung accompanied Premier Cho Jung-tai to the Legislative Yuan today for the Executive Yuan’s policy report. Speaking to reporters before the session, Minister Koo stated that production of the F-16V fighter aircraft has progressed to the point where they are now ready for delivery. The Armed Forces are continuing preparations to receive the aircraft in accordance with plans established by the U.S. program office. Minister Koo added that following the Trump-Xi meeting, the United States has repeatedly affirmed that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. All arms sales and related cooperation continue to move forward, and Taiwan has received no notification of any changes to date. Responding to media questions regarding the F-16V delivery schedule, Minister Koo confirmed that production of the aircraft has reached the point at which they are ready for delivery. Preparations to receive the aircraft are continuing in accordance with the U.S. program office’s plans. Once the schedule for flying the aircraft back to Taiwan has been confirmed, the Ministry of National Defense will provide further information at an appropriate time. Regarding the inability to complete delivery of all F-16Vs by the end of this year and possible subsequent compensation measures, Minister Koo explained that foreign military sales agreements do not include penalty provisions but do provide for compensatory measures. The United States has demonstrated goodwill, and the Armed Forces will continue coordinating with the U.S. side. Further details will be announced once a specific arrangement has been finalized. Asked whether the Trump-Xi meeting might affect U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Minister Koo stated that the Ministry has repeatedly received assurances from the United States that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. Consultations with the United States on the relevant arms sales are continuing, and Taiwan has received no notification of any changes to the specific cooperation arrangements for any of the cases.

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.

A symposium marking the first anniversary of the implementation of the Servicemember Relief Act was held today at the Northern Military Judicial Complex. In his remarks, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said the new system integrates the internal remedies previously available through administrative appeals, complaints, and servicemember rights protection procedures. It places disputes concerning servicemembers’ rights on a statutory footing and provides for their adjudication and review by the Service Tribunal of the High Court of Military Justice and Servicemember Rights Protection Committee through objective, professional, and efficient procedures prescribed by law. By protecting servicemembers’ rights while maintaining military discipline, the system represents an important milestone in the Armed Forces’ progress toward a human rights-based legal framework. The Servicemember Relief Act has now been in effect for one year since its implementation on August 6, 2025. The Ministry’s Department of Legal Affairs invited former Judicial Yuan President Hsu Tzong-li to deliver a keynote address. Minister without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin and Judicial Yuan Department of Administrative Litigation and Discipline Director-General Kuo Shu-chen also attended. Participants exchanged views on the servicemember rights protection system and its practical implementation, with the aim of continuing to improve the Armed Forces’ rights-relief mechanisms. Minister Koo noted that during the system’s first year, the Servicemember Rights Protection Committee has handled petitions for deliberation and re-appeals filed by servicemembers. They have also identified specific deficiencies in flawed administrative dispositions, regularly compiled and analyzed the reasons such dispositions were revoked, and proposed improvements. Through regional forums and professional exchanges, the committees have helped improve the quality of administrative dispositions issued by military units and enhance public confidence in military administration. In addition to hearing administrative litigation concerning disciplinary measures and discharge for unfitness for active service, the Service Tribunal handles compulsory enforcement cases involving the recovery of publicly funded benefits. Military judges have also continued strengthening exchanges with judicial authorities to enhance their professional knowledge and adjudicative capabilities. Minister Koo outlined three expectations for the military legal personnel attending the symposium: to become “a source of support for commanders,” “an advocate for servicemembers,” and “the most professional team.” He emphasized that administration in accordance with the law is a fundamental requirement of a modern military. Military legal personnel should provide commanders at all levels with sound legal advice to ensure that all policies and measures are implemented lawfully. They should also proactively assist servicemembers and their families with legal issues, serving them with professionalism and dedication so that personnel can focus on combat readiness and training without undue concern. Military legal personnel should also continue developing expertise in legal affairs, administrative appeals, procurement, personnel affairs, disciplinary measures, human rights in the military, legal and disciplinary investigations, military operations, and other fields. Finally, Minister Koo thanked the Executive Yuan, Judicial Yuan, and other government agencies and ministries for assisting the Ministry in implementing the new system under the Servicemember Relief Act. He emphasized that the Armed Forces would continue upholding due process, consolidating the statutory foundations of remedial mechanisms for protecting servicemembers’ rights, and demonstrating its determination to protect human rights within the military.

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.

The Ministry of National Defense convened the 49th meeting of its Gender Equality Task Force today. Chaired by Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien, the meeting addressed gender equality, a supportive workplace, and cultural diversity. Participants discussed ways to advance the Ministry’s gender equality initiatives and foster a high-quality working environment. The meeting was held at Bo’ai Camp this morning and attended by external members Yen Hsiang-luan, Chin Chi-fang, and Yu Chen-yi; representatives from the Executive Yuan’s Department of Gender Equality and the three service headquarters; and personnel responsible for related affairs at the National Defense University and other organizations. The responsible unit first reported on the implementation of action items from the previous meeting. Participants then discussed gender equality -related cases with the committee members, with the aim of continually improving the Ministry’s gender equality initiatives and creating a safe and gender-friendly environment. Vice Minister Hsu emphasized the importance of establishing robust gender equality systems. The soundness of these systems affects how cases are investigated and handled, as well as personnel’s trust in the systems. Current systems and operating mechanisms should therefore be reviewed continuously, with deficiencies addressed and improvements made. This will strengthen procedures for handling gender equality -related cases, provide more appropriate safeguards, and foster a safe and supportive workplace. Vice Minister Hsu also noted that while the relevant systems continue to be reviewed and improved, gender equality -related cases must be handled carefully in accordance with applicable requirements. In particular, the composition of the relevant committees and the investigation process must ensure procedural fairness and impartiality while protecting the rights and interests of all parties. This will ensure that service members can focus on combat readiness and training in a safe, respectful, and equitable workplace.

President Lai Ching-te today inspected the New Taipei City 2026 Urban Resilience (All-out Defense Mobilization) Exercise. Exercise events included operations at the Joint Emergency Operations Center (JEOC), medical load reduction and underground relocation at Shuang Ho Hospital, and the distribution and sale of essential supplies. The President expressed hope that cooperation between the central and local governments and collaboration between the public and private sectors would continue strengthening societal resilience, enabling the government to remain operational and minimizing disruption to people’s lives during emergencies. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan experiences typhoons every year and may also be struck by earthquakes every few years. In addition to building up the Armed Forces, preparing for war, and safeguarding national security, the Armed Forces has long participated in disaster relief and helped maintain social stability. The Armed Forces regard disaster response as an integral part of force development and combat readiness. Local governments also conduct annual societal resilience exercises in preparation for typhoons, earthquakes, and other disasters. These exercises were formerly known as Wan An and Min An Exercises. President Lai said that after taking office, he established the “Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee” under the Presidential Office to advance societal resilience. He also combined the Wan An and Min An Exercises conducted by local governments into the Urban Resilience Exercise. This year, the exercise was extended from one day to two and conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces’ annual Han Kuang Exercise. Under a common scenario, the Armed Forces conduct military exercises as the first line of defense while local governments carry out whole-of-society defense resilience exercises. The objective is for the Armed Forces to safeguard national security while local governments and civil society organizations work together to maintain social stability, minimizing the impact on society in the event of either natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts. The President said he had specifically chosen to inspect the whole-of-society defense resilience exercise in New Taipei City this year. His first stop was the Joint Emergency Operations Center, followed by an inspection of emergency medical preparedness and then a distribution point for essential supplies. He thanked Mayor Hou Yu-ih and the city government team for their thorough preparations, noting that cooperation between the central and local governments had proven highly effective. President Lai noted that the distribution system he inspected earlier included both government-operated distribution points and participating private retailers, creating a dual-track arrangement. A smart information system has also been established, and exercises continue to address a variety of potential scenarios. He described these achievements as highly commendable. The President said that through collective efforts, central-local cooperation, and public-private collaboration, Taiwan can continue strengthening its societal resilience. When an emergency occurs, greater resilience will enable the government to maintain its operations while reducing the impact on people’s daily lives. President Lai also referred to the air defense exercise conducted today from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. In cities where the exercise was conducted, mobile communications were affected and data speeds were reduced during the exercise, while travel and movement were also somewhat disrupted. He asked the public for its understanding and support, emphasizing that the exercise was necessary. “Every exercise makes us more resilient. Greater resilience brings greater stability when an emergency occurs and reduces the impact on our lives,” the President said. President Lai thanked the National Security Council and the ministries and agencies of the Executive Yuan for their efforts. He also noted that representatives of foreign missions in Taiwan had participated in the exercise and offered their observations, demonstrating the international community’s strong interest in Taiwan’s security and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. “The virtuous are never alone; they always have neighbors,” the President said. In the face of shifting regional geopolitics, Taiwan is not confronting these challenges alone, but alongside an international community that shares its concerns. Nevertheless, Taiwan must not neglect its own preparations or simply rely on others. Citing Mayor Hou’s remarks, President Lai said, “We need not fear a century without incident, but we must fear even one day without preparation.” By embracing this principle and preparing thoroughly, Taiwan will be ready for any eventuality. The more comprehensive its preparations, the better positioned it will be to prevent crises from occurring. Also attending the exercise were New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih , who also served as Commander of the New Taipei City Joint Emergency Operations Center; National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu; National Security Council Advisor Liu Te-chin; Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan; Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng; Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang; Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung; Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang; Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin; Deputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan; All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Director-General Lieutenant General Liao Chien-hsing; American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene; Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Marie-Louise Hannan; Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei Representative Israel Strulov; and representatives of other foreign missions in Taiwan.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung visited units participating in the field-training phase of the “Han Kuang 42 Exercise” in Taoyuan today. He reviewed the tactical employment of drones for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence transmission, and strikes, as well as the use of 3D-printing technology for “battlefield additive manufacturing ” of drone components. He also thanked participating service members for their tireless efforts. Accompanied by Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien, Vice Chief of the General Staff (Executive) General Huang Chih-wei, and other officials, Minister Koo first received battlefield briefings from the operational sector command and drone units. He then observed personnel operating various types of drones to conduct battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance, and strikes. He also discussed plans for wartime defense in depth, successive resistance operations, and wartime transportation control with senior officers. Minister Koo later visited a drone unit’s tactical position, where he inspected its 3D-printing equipment and reviewed its processes and capacity for “battlefield additive manufacturing ”. Minister Koo said drone operations require the integrated planning of surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence transmission, command and control, and strike capabilities according to the operational environment and mission requirements. These capabilities must be closely aligned with operational concepts, while different types of weapons and equipment should be employed flexibly to enhance battlefield awareness, real-time response, and precision-strike capabilities, thereby maximizing overall operational effectiveness. Relevant units should develop capabilities for battlefield additive manufacturing , rapid repair, and resupply. Technologies such as 3D printing can support a distributed, rapid, and sustainable maintenance and replenishment mechanism. These capabilities should also be repeatedly validated through exercises to strengthen operational resilience and sustainability . Later, Minister Koo visited an Air Force unit to review its operational capabilities, force deployment, protective force disposition, and defensive area of responsibility. He provided guidance on the employment of combat power and firepower, the maintenance of command-and-control links, and protection of defensive positions. These efforts are intended to strengthen units’ mobile deployment, backup capabilities , and sustained operational capabilities in response to enemy threats and changing battlefield conditions, ensuring the effective execution of all operational missions.

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.