President-elect William Lai (賴清德) and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday received a briefing on the nation’s defense posture at the Ministry of National Defense as part of preparations for their inauguration on May 20.
On Thursday last week, the pair also visited the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, where they were briefed on the nation’s indigenous arms production, including weapons platforms and missiles.
Citing an anonymous source, the Central News Agency said that Lai and Hsiao yesterday met Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) and Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu (梅家樹) before inspecting the Armed Forces Joint Command Center.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Lai, Hsiao and top defense officials discussed the military’s strategy and plans for an hour at a briefing at the command center, the source was cited as saying.
The content of the briefing was in line with Chiu’s report on Monday about the ministry’s plans at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, they were cited as saying.
An apparent information leak to the media said that retired vice admiral Lee Chung-wei (李仲威) — who is said to be under consideration for minister of national defense — would attend the briefing with Lai at the command center.
A ministry spokesperson told the Chinese-language United Daily News that Lee was not on the list of personnel attending the briefing, but declined to elaborate on what that meant.
Earlier yesterday, Lai visited the machine tool industry conference hosted by Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空工業) in Taipei.
Lai told industry representatives that the machine tool sector is the backbone that underpins Taiwan’s economy, and the incoming administration would take note of their opinions, the Presidential Office said in a news release.
Military defense and the economy are the twin pillars that protect Taiwan’s security, Lai was cited as saying, adding that he has met with and consulted leaders of crucial or emerging industries that are vital to the nation’s economy.
They include leaders of the semiconductor, information and communications technology, uncrewed aerial vehicle, cybersecurity and tourism sectors, Lai said.
Taiwan’s machine tool exports last year totaled US$29.5 billion, down 15 percent from the previous year due to adverse global economic and geopolitical factors, but the industry has since January returned to growth, Lai said.
A meeting with representatives of the machine tool industry would be arranged shortly after the presidential inauguration, he said.
Lai was briefed on the sector’s developments by Industrial Development Administration Director-General Lien Ching-chang (連錦漳) and discussed carbon emissions, energy conservation, exports and emerging markets with industry leaders, the Presidential Office said.
Lai also toured the AIDC composite materials center and the production line for AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle trainer jets, it said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old