A resident of Juguang Township (莒光) in Lienchiang County (Matsu) recently took some photos of messages written in the sand on a beach.
The two sentences read: “The Matsu Defense Command kitchen has no meat, so hungry soldiers can only eat instant noodles and canned food,” and “The Matsu Defense Command kitchen’s main course is plain rice.”
This information inspired some media to launch a tirade without looking into the matter. With calm consideration, this SOS message can lead to two conclusions.
MILITARY AT FAULT?
The first is that the army is to blame. A broken link in the supply chain to Kinmen and Matsu disrupted the supply of meat to those islands, which are close to China’s coast, and this has affected morale.
Although Kinmen and Matsu’s strategic location is no longer so important to deter China from attacking Taiwan, the needs of soldiers serving there should not be neglected.
Second, although the morale of an army unit would be affected if it only has access to canned food, it should not weaken the troops.
Even if they have to eat bark and roots, it should not affect their will to fight. Sending out an SOS exposes the military’s weaknesses to the enemy, so why is the military so feeble in this respect?
It would be wrong to blame only the Ministry of National Defense, without considering the social environment.
RESILIENCE IS POWER
My service as a psychological warfare officer with the Matsu Defense Command 40 years ago has made me well aware of the harsh frontline conditions.
The winters were so cold that we often woke up shivering in the middle of the night, but the summers were so humid that if we went on a two-day mission, by the time we came back, our quilts would be growing tendrils.
Water was scarce, so we could only take one shower per week. Since there were no fruit trees, all fruit had to be transported from Taiwan proper. The troops did not get enough vitamin C and other nutrients, which caused health problems such as night blindness.
Things are better now than 40 years ago, but back then, soldiers never complained about hardship or let it affect their will.
Consequently, the communists did not dare to move forward, and Taiwan was well protected.
CODDLED YOUNGSTERS
Why does the morale of today’s soldiers start failing after only 20 days with canned food and no meat?
The main reason is that young people in today’s society are over-protected, which makes them lazy and unable to endure tough conditions.
Blaming the defense ministry for the shortage of meat would make it hesitant to test its soldiers.
In wartime, soldiers sometimes have nothing to eat, so how can today’s troops be expected to fight to the last person? If things go on like this, how can Taiwan be a “porcupine”?
History shows that an army marches on its stomach. Of course, the Matsu meat shortage should not continue.
However, soldiers used to know how to sleep rough and endure hardship. Things are much better now.
How to train a strong and resilient army is surely a more urgent question than whether troops always have meat to go with their bowl of rice.
Chao Hsin-peng formerly served as a Republic of China armed forces psychological warfare adviser in South Korea.
Translated by Julian Clegg
There is a modern roadway stretching from central Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, to the partially recognized state’s Egal International Airport. Emblazoned on a gold plaque marking the road’s inauguration in July last year, just below the flags of Somaliland and the Republic of China (ROC), is the road’s official name: “Taiwan Avenue.” The first phase of construction of the upgraded road, with new sidewalks and a modern drainage system to reduce flooding, was 70 percent funded by Taipei, which contributed US$1.85 million. That is a relatively modest sum for the effect on international perception, and
At the end of last year, a diplomatic development with consequences reaching well beyond the regional level emerged. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state, paving the way for political, economic and strategic cooperation with the African nation. The diplomatic breakthrough yields, above all, substantial and tangible benefits for the two countries, enhancing Somaliland’s international posture, with a state prepared to champion its bid for broader legitimacy. With Israel’s support, Somaliland might also benefit from the expertise of Israeli companies in fields such as mineral exploration and water management, as underscored by Israeli Minister of
Chile has elected a new government that has the opportunity to take a fresh look at some key aspects of foreign economic policy, mainly a greater focus on Asia, including Taiwan. Still, in the great scheme of things, Chile is a small nation in Latin America, compared with giants such as Brazil and Mexico, or other major markets such as Colombia and Argentina. So why should Taiwan pay much attention to the new administration? Because the victory of Chilean president-elect Jose Antonio Kast, a right-of-center politician, can be seen as confirming that the continent is undergoing one of its periodic political shifts,
On Sunday, elite free solo climber Alex Honnold — famous worldwide for scaling sheer rock faces without ropes — climbed Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building and still the most recognizable symbol of Taiwan’s modern identity. Widespread media coverage not only promoted Taiwan, but also saw the Republic of China (ROC) flag fluttering beside the building, breaking through China’s political constraints on Taiwan. That visual impact did not happen by accident. Credit belongs to Taipei 101 chairwoman Janet Chia (賈永婕), who reportedly took the extra step of replacing surrounding flags with the ROC flag ahead of the climb. Just
RSS