Despite the easing of tensions across the Taiwan Strait in recent years, Taiwan’s security cannot depend on the goodwill of China, Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻) said yesterday, adding that the Taiwanese military must remain on guard.
“Although cross-strait ties have improved, it doesn’t mean that our security can depend on goodwill extended by others,” Kao said at a military personnel promotion ceremony.
The Taiwanese military must maintain its efforts to be combat-ready to ensure the security of the nation and peace across the Strait, he said, calling on the military to “stay highly vigilant.”
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
A strong national defense is a staunch backing for Taiwan to engage with China and is key to maintaining peace and stability across the strait and in the region, Kao said.
President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has insisted that tensions across the Strait have eased since he took office in 2008.
In the face of yearly double-digit growth in China’s defense budget and a complex international situation, Taiwan needs to continue efforts to bolster its combat capabilities and build a small, but elite force in line with the concept of innovative, asymmetric warfare, Kao said.
Kao also urged the military to strengthen its measures against Chinese espionage attempts to prevent leaks of Taiwan’s military secrets, in an effort to ensure the nation’s security.
He also reiterated the necessity of a shift to a volunteer force to build a modern, specialized military.
Saying that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Republic of China’s (ROC) victory over Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War, Kao said that it was the toughest fight in the history of the ROC and that the public should keep that in mind.
The ceremony promoted a total of 29 general officers, with their promotions to take effect on July 1, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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