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.
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