The Ministry of National Defense yesterday said the military police would be merged with the Army, with military police command falling under the chief of general staff.
“As we continue to cut military personnel numbers, we are planning to merge the three command headquarters — logistics, reserve forces and military police — with the Army,” ministry spokesman Major General Yu Sy-tue (虞思祖) said.
Yu said that in addition to the military police’s regular assignments such as ensuring security at the Presidential Office and maintaining military discipline, once it came under the command of the chief of general staff, it would be given other assignments, including investigating military scandals and bribery.
The spokesman said more details of the change would be made public after the plan is finalized.
Meanwhile, to avoid disturbing students who will be taking their college entrance exams today, tomorrow and Friday, the ministry has requested that the Air Force not hold air training for pilots between 8:30am and 3pm, as the exams will be held in Hsinchu, Taichung, Pingtung, Hualien, Taitung, Tainan and Chiayi, which all have air bases.
The request, however, contradicts a regulation that the Air Force must carry out stricter security measures and military status whenever the president is abroad — that flights and training courses be increased and that fighter aircraft be ready for takeoff within three minutes after an order has been given.
The Air Force said pilots had been given special instructions and that the two requests would not contradict each other.
“We still have a lot of training to do between 8:30am and 3pm. Those training courses are necessary and important. I do not think the ban will impact our plan to carry out stricter security measures,” an officer from the Air Force Command Headquarters said on condition of anonymity.The Ministry of National Defense yesterday said the military police would be merged with the Army, with military police command falling under the chief of general staff.
“As we continue to cut military personnel numbers, we are planning to merge the three command headquarters — logistics, reserve forces and military police — with the Army,” ministry spokesman Major General Yu Sy-tue (虞思祖) said.
Yu said that in addition to the military police’s regular assignments such as ensuring security at the Presidential Office and maintaining military discipline, once it came under the command of the chief of general staff, it would be given other assignments, including investigating military scandals and bribery.
The spokesman said more details of the change would be made public after the plan is finalized.
Meanwhile, to avoid disturbing students who will be taking their college entrance exams today, tomorrow and Friday, the ministry has requested that the Air Force not hold air training for pilots between 8:30am and 3pm, as the exams will be held in Hsinchu, Taichung, Pingtung, Hualien, Taitung, Tainan and Chiayi, which all have air bases.
The request, however, contradicts a regulation that the Air Force must carry out stricter security measures and military status whenever the president is abroad — that flights and training courses be increased and that fighter aircraft be ready for takeoff within three minutes after an order has been given.
The Air Force said pilots had been given special instructions and that the two requests would not contradict each other.
“We still have a lot of training to do between 8:30am and 3pm. Those training courses are necessary and important. I do not think the ban will impact our plan to carry out stricter security measures,” an officer from the Air Force Command Headquarters said on condition of anonymity.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man