MNA

Vice Minister for Policy Hsu Szu-Chien stated today that the “Special Act on Procurement for Strengthening Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities” was proposed in response to enemy threats and joint operations requirements. The overall planning covered capability construction in strike, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance, command and control, unmanned systems, and sustained combat capabilities. These various capabilities were interdependent and could not be arbitrarily reduced or postponed. He hoped that all political parties would jointly support national defense buildup and the enhancement of defense resilience. The Executive Yuan held a press conference after its meeting this morning, during which Vice Minister Hsu explained issues related to the special defense act. Vice Minister Hsu pointed out that this special budget adopted a one-time, large-scale investment approach. In addition to accelerating combat power acquisition, it could also provide long-term stable demand for domestic industries and drive the development of unmanned systems and the national defense industry. If the budget were changed to annual allocations, it would affect the military buildup timeline and the effectiveness of equipment integration. Regarding military procurement progress, Vice Minister Hsu stated that the relevant military procurement cases had all completed preliminary coordination with the U.S. side and obtained formal letters of supply assurance. The Ministry of National Defense would continue to maintain close communication and coordination with the U.S. side to ensure smooth advancement of all procurement cases. In addition, Vice Minister Hsu emphasized that promoting large-scale and long-term procurement of unmanned systems and related equipment through the special budget would not only help rapidly enhance combat power but also assist domestic manufacturers in investing in research and development and production capacity building, thereby strengthening defense self-reliance and supply chain resilience.

Today, the Second Operational Zone, together with cross-regional reinforcement personnel from the Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones and the Marine Corps Command, mobilized multiple heavy engineering equipment units to Changqiao Village, Fenglin Township, Hualien County, continuing tasks such as road debris clearance, disinfection, and household environment cleanup. They are working at full capacity to remove mud and obstacles, assisting local authorities in restoring passage and basic living functions for residents. Executive Yuan Political Deputy Minister Chi Lien-cheng visited Mingli Village in Wanrong Township and Changqiao Village in Fenglin Township today to inspect disaster conditions, understand the current situation in affected areas, and provide guidance. In addition to consoling local disaster victims, Deputy Minister Chi also encouraged the service members assisting with residential cleanup, praising their hard work in disaster relief operations. The Second Operational Zone stated that units will continue to dispatch manpower and equipment according to the needs of local governments, fully executing post-disaster recovery tasks and assisting reconstruction efforts in the fastest and most effective manner, joining hands with local authorities and residents to overcome challenges and restore their beautiful homeland as quickly as possible.

President LAI, CHING-TE visited Kaohsiung this morning to inspect the Hai-An Exercise No. 12 of the Coast Guard Administration (CGA). He expressed his gratitude to CGA personnel for shouldering the great responsibility of being the 'Guardians of the Blue Homeland,' protecting the lives and property of the people. President Lai also stated that the Executive Yuan has allocated a special budget from surplus of previous fiscal years to help the CGA acquire more advanced equipment and technology to safeguard every grain of national territory. He called on all political parties, regardless of affiliation, to stand united in supporting CGA personnel, jointly defending national security, and protecting the democracy and freedom of Taiwan. Upon his arrival, President Lai, accompanied by Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister KUAN, BI-LING and other officials, first visited the CGA to inspect various equipment, including mobile thermal imaging system, actual machines and simulators of UAV, remote-controlled turret with 20mm cannon, side-scan sonar system, rescue ATVs, 3D underwater imaging system, and MOD positioning devices. He then proceeded to the observation deck to inspect exercises such as "interception and capture," "rigging rescue," and the "maritime and aerial parade." During the exercise, it was simulated that a passenger ferry traveling between Taiwan and Penghu was hijacked by terrorists, with some modified speedboats backing up. Upon receiving orders, the CGA special operations forces immediately deployed two assault boats to pursue and capture the speedboats. The team then split into two groups, one abseiled down from the UH-60 Black Hawk of the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC), while the other boarded the ferry via rope from the assault boats. They launched a coordinated assault to subdue the terrorists and regain control of the ferry. After the suppression and arresting were done, the team notified the Air Rescue Group to evacuate injured hostages to the nearest medical facility by rigging rescue, and thus completed the rescue mission successfully. Following the exercise, a joint maritime and aerial parade was conducted sequentially by various vessels of the CGA, the NASC of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), and the Air Rescue Group. It was breathtaking onsite, and many people raised their phones to capture the moment. This exercise offered the public an immersive experience and a vivid demonstration of the CGA’s capabilities and determination to defend our maritime territory. After the exercise, President Lai delivered a speech thanking the CGA, the R.O.C. Armed Forces, and the MOI for their close cooperation. He noted that through the " Hai-An Exercise No. 12," a comprehensive review of the maritime security system was completed, and the exercise showcased Taiwan’s ability to respond promptly and handle maritime emergencies effectively and thoroughly. It was "National Ocean Day" today, he took this occasion to pay tribute to the ocean and to demonstrate Taiwan’s resilience to the world. In recent years, despite the rapid shifts in global geopolitics, the increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and the relentless gray-zone threats from the R.R.C., the CGA personnel kept remaining on the front lines and enforcing the law firmly. Whether combating crime, cracking down on smuggling, or conducting search and rescue missions, they have remained committed to protecting the lives and property of the Taiwanese people. President Lai emphasized that in the face of increasingly complex maritime security challenges, determination alone is not enough, continued investment in resources is essential. Recently, the Executive Yuan allocated NT$410 billion in special budget from surplus of previous fiscal years, which aimed at building new coast guard vessels, deploying drones and a smart island-wide surveillance system, as well as upgrading personnel training and professional equipment. As OAC Minister KUAN, BI-LING said, "our coast guard must no longer be night-blind." This is not just about upgrading equipment, it represents the continuous strengthening of national security and resilience. President Lai urged the Legislative Yuan to stand together, regardless of party affiliation, in supporting CGA personnel and to back the Executive Yuan’s special budget, which will equip the CGA with the most advanced technologies and gear to protect every grain of the nation’s territory and safeguard the safety and dignity of the Taiwanese people. In conclusion, President Lai once again expressed his appreciation to all CGA personnel and members of the R.O.C. Armed Forces. He affirmed that the government will continue to integrate efforts from all ministries and agencies to strengthen the all-out defense resilience, work together to safeguard national security and protect Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.