President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday on Armed Forces Day urged Taiwanese to show support for the military and protect the nation together.
“Armed Forces Day is only one day, but our soldiers protect the country 365 days a year, day and night, without holidays,” Tsai wrote on Facebook, as she invited Taiwanese to express their gratitude to military personnel.
She said that the national defense budget for next year is more than NT$606.8 billion (US$19.05 billion), a historical high.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA-EFE
The environment on military bases is continuously improving, and more than 60,000 soldiers are expected to have more comfortable living quarters by the end of next year, she said.
Taiwan is enhancing military training and bolstering its reserve forces to achieve defense autonomy, to show the world the nation’s determination to protect democracy and freedom, she said.
“Our country is stronger because of the military’s devotion,” she wrote. “Let us thank the military for their efforts and be their backup, working together to protect our country.”
Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate in next year’s election, also expressed his gratitude to the military in a Facebook post, writing that their sacrifice ensures Taiwanese can live in peace.
“The armed forces are the basis of national security, so giving the military our biggest support is the government’s responsibility,” he wrote.
“Taiwan is on the front line of democracy’s stand against authoritarianism, and the armed forces are at the front line of protecting peace in the Taiwan Strait,” he said. “As the world is closely watching the state of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, we should stand in unity against external threats, and become a strong backup for our military.”
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook that he respects those who serve in the military and Taiwanese should support the armed forces.
“Maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and avoiding war are the biggest hopes of Taiwanese and the armed forces, but under the administration of the DPP in the past few years, the scale between war and peace is tilting toward the risk of a fierce battle, which is a concern for Taiwanese and the armed forces, as well as the world,” he wrote.
While Taiwan must enhance its national defense capabilities, but as the government has emphasized purchasing new weapons and equipment, it has forgotten about those who serve in the military, as they determine the nation’s military strength.
He said that if elected president, he would raise military wages, and review the military pension and promotion mechanisms.
Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) wrote on Facebook that the armed forces are Taiwan’s lifeline, adding that the national defense budget should be at least 3 percent of GDP.
He wrote that the military budget should be considered in three parts: personnel, operations and investment, adding that financial discipline should be accomplished through an item-by-item review of by the legislature.
As automated and “intelligent” weapon systems are an irreversible trend, the government should revise its labor-intensive strategies and add new technologies to training programs to build a modern military, Ko said.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), who has announced that he would run as an independent presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook that he served in the air force in Kinmen County when China would shell the county’s main island.
Although the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, during which China fired more than 470,000 shells at Kinmen over 44 days, ended in 1958, China continued to intermittently shell Kinmen until 1979.
Gou said that people who lived through that period of time would not want the same experience for the next generation.
Taiwan must prepare for war, but not be afraid of it, and keep their faith as they pursue peace, he said.
Additional reporting by Lin Hsin-han
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