The military should continue improving its organizational structure and enhancing the troops' practical combat training, President William Lai (賴清德) said today.
At a ceremony in Taipei marking the promotion of six armed forces officers, Lai expressed hope that the military would "review the organizational structure of the main combat, defense and reserve forces" and, through regular exercises, test the troops' ability to carry out joint operations.
Photo: CNA
The aim is to enhance the troops' "combat resilience" through practical exercises, Lai said, adding that the "immediate response" drills conducted from Monday to Friday last week were part of such efforts.
The five-day drills were designed to test the military's response in the scenario in which the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) unexpectedly escalates military exercises or "gray zone" activities near Taiwan into a real attack operation.
"In the face of the convergence of authoritarian forces" and "the growing 'gray zone' intrusions" from China, Taiwan's armed forces must employ asymmetric warfare tactics while at the same time demonstrating their resolve to defend the country, Lai said.
Lai added that his administration remained committed to reforming the military and progressive troop modernization.
Colonel Tung Shuai-ku (董帥谷), Tang Cheng (湯成), Chang Ching-tai (張景泰) and Lee Tsung-tai (李宗泰) from the army, and Colonel Chou Wen-hisang (周文祥) from the air force were all promoted to the rank of major general.
Captain Huang Chao-hsing (黃超興) from the navy was promoted to rear admiral.
The six officers have made contributions in various areas, including talent development, combat readiness, cyberwarfare drills and military promotion, Lai said.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 8:39pm tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicenter was 38.7km east-northeast of Yilan County Hall at a focal depth of 98.3km, the CWA’s Seismological Center said. The quake’s maximum intensity, which gauges the actual physical effect of a seismic event, was a level 4 on Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, the center said. That intensity level was recorded in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳), Hsinchu County’s Guansi Township (關西), Nantou County’s Hehuanshan (合歡山) and Hualien County’s Yanliao (鹽寮). An intensity of 3 was
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Taiwan's first indigenous defense submarine, the SS-711 Hai Kun (海鯤, or Narwhal), departed for its 13th sea trial at 7am today, marking its seventh submerged test, with delivery to the navy scheduled for July. The outing also marked its first sea deployment since President William Lai (賴清德) boarded the submarine for an inspection on March 19, drawing a crowd of military enthusiasts who gathered to show support. The submarine this morning departed port accompanied by CSBC Corp’s Endeavor Manta (奮進魔鬼魚號) uncrewed surface vessel and a navy M109 assault boat. Amid public interest in key milestones such as torpedo-launching operations and overnight submerged trials,
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