Deputy Defense Minister for Armament Affairs General Chen Chao-ming (陳肇敏) yesterday confirmed that the US military plans to send personnel to participate in this year's Hankuang No. 19, exercise but he denied that these personnel will be here mainly for the purpose of simulating evacuation of US citizens.
"It is not appropriate to categorize the US military personnel who are to come here for the Hankuang No. 19 exercise as an `evacuation team.' If we use the term, it might make people think that the US is preparing to abandon Taiwan," Chen said.
As to how the US military personnel are to be included in the Hankuang No. 19 exercise, Chen declined to comment.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
"We are still working on it. It is too early to discuss the details," he said.
At the same time, Chen said he would like to see Taiwan's military have more chances to participate in joint exercises with other countries.
"We hope to see this day come. It is our vision for the future," he said.
Chen made the remarks yesterday at a meeting of the legislature's defense committee as part of his response to inquiries from lawmakers over a report by a Chinese language newspaper that the US military is to send an "evacuation team" to Taiwan to simulate evacuation of US citizens in the upcoming exercise.
Chen acknowledged that some US military personnel will participate in the exercise but he denied that they would be called an "evacuation team" and agreed with some lawmakers who called the term "evacuation team" insulting to Taiwan's people.
Chen declined to say how the US military team is to be involved in the exercise, which is scheduled to be held in either April or May.
Chen did not specify which countries the military wishes to hold joint exercises with, but the US is believed to be one of the choices.
"It is too early to discuss the issue. It is very sensitive," Chen said. "Nevertheless, we will try not to be isolated. We should have more contacts with armed forces from other countries."
Chen said this vision was likely to be realized in the years to come since the military has already started working in that direction.
The military plans to start in 2006 holding joint exercises with a friendly country. Before that, a lot of preparation's have to be made, including turning all combat manuals into bilingual versions with Chinese and English placed side by side.
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) for making false allegations about donations to Ukraine and disclosing confidential documents, with the ministry saying that it would take legal action. The ministry last year signed an agreement with the Czech Republic on a healthcare project to assist Ukraine, which is to be carried out by the Czech Health Technology Institute. Hsu accused the ministry of being indirectly involved in the party politics of the Czech Republic as institute chairman Petr Foit is a local medical supplier, and has close political
‘DIGITAL SOLIDARITY’: Taiwan, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are to install and operate a cable that would connect up to 100,000 people in the Pacific Islands Taiwan, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are working together to install undersea cables as a demonstration of digital solidarity, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday. Blinken talked about the cooperation in a speech he delivered at the RSA Conference in San Francisco. He said that the US International Cyberspace and Digital Strategy launched by the US Department of State “treats digital solidarity as our North Star.” “Solidarity informs our approach not only to digital technologies, but to all key foundational technologies,” Blinken said. Under the strategy, the US is to work with international partners “to shape the design, development,