President Chen Shui-bian (
Accompanied by military leadership, Chen toured the major facilities of the vast Chiashan base, which sits in a hollowed-out mountain not far away from the Pacific Ocean.
The Chiashan base, which took roughly eight years and more than NT$27 billion to build, was one of the military's largest engineering projects in recent decades. Its construction spanned from 1985 to 1993. The base reportedly is able to accommodate roughly 200 fighter planes. It was designed to preserve the combat strength of the air force in the event of a first strike by the enemy.
Chen visited the base's strategic command center and the giant tunnels that allow fighters to taxi and park, according to a defense official who participated in the trip.
Impressed by what he saw, Chen said in a later speech to military leaders that the eastern parts of the island will play a key role in the defense of the country in the future, the official said.
The security of the eastern part of the island will greatly affect the defense of the whole country and the offshore Penghu islands. The most important task in the enhancement of the security of the region is to combine military and civilian resources, the official quoted Chen as saying.
In addition to the Chiashan base, Chen also inspected neighboring military establishments, including the 401st fighter wing of the air force and the navy's aviation command center.
The 401st fighter wing is comprised solely of US-made F-16s. Only one squadron of the wing has been established, while the remaining two squadrons are still awaiting to be inaugurated.
The wing's primary role is to protect the Chiashan base, as well as important military assets in the eastern parts of the island.
The wing is located next to the Chiashan base, capable of scrambling planes in the shortest amount of time possible.
The navy's aviation command center, also located in the vicinity, is home to the navy's anti-submarine helicopters and aircraft such as the S-2T.
As was the case during his previous inspection trips to military establishments, Chen had lunch with the base's staff officers before flying back to Taipei.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS