A Ministry of National Defense (MND) officer was quoted in a recent Washington Post story about Taiwan’s military as saying that there are not enough one-year conscripts to begin training to use drones, Kestrel anti-tank rockets and surface-to-air Stinger missiles.
The article said Taiwan was behind schedule in terms of strengthening training, which has aroused concern and discussion.
However, is the defense training situation in Taiwan being accurately reported?
The ministry swiftly responded to the article, saying that conscripts undergo different types of training based on military demand and expertise after they are assigned to different units.
Training to use new weapons would be arranged in relevant programs according to the acquisition schedule and operation demand, and would be implemented by the Training Command, ministry spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang (孫立方) said.
It takes time for conscripts to be familiar with the use of drones and Stinger missiles, which require a mindset that is totally different from the armed forces in the past, Defense International editor-in-chief Chen Kuo-ming (陳國銘) said.
Training soldiers with the skills to use drones is a huge challenge.
Some experts say that the use of drones might be hindered by restrictions set by the Civil Aviation Administration, and that the military and the authorities should step up discussions.
The annual Han Kuang military exercises this year did not feature live-fire drills to lower costs and minimize risks, while effectively testing the army’s responsiveness and strategic cooperation.
The military arranged live-fire drills in northern and central Taiwan a few weeks after the Han Kuang military exercises, conducting drills under heavy fire in Hsinchu and along the Dajia River (大甲溪) to demonstrate its military strength.
Heavy artillery with calibers of more than 155cm was used in the drills to test the mechanical performance and effectiveness of military training, Sixth Army Corps’ Political Warfare Department head Shih Shun-wen (史順文) said.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) increases activities around Taiwan whenever the nation bolsters its military training.
The MND said it recently detected nine PLA aircraft and nine PLA Navy vessels operating around Taiwan within one day early this week. Six of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s eastern Air Defense Identification Zone.
These are direct threats to Taiwan and require the military to maintain a high degree of vigilance.
The armed forces’ extensive surveillance and measures to counter the PLA’s provocations have underlined their preparedness and determination. Enhancing training and the ability to use new weapons have become particularly important given these developments.
The Washington Post report was possibly biased, not accurately reflecting the actual progress Taiwan has made in terms of military training. The Han Kuang military exercises and the following live-fire drills demonstrate Taiwan’s military strengths and capabilities.
Facing threats from the PLA, we must ensure everyone in the army knows how to use modern weapons by bolstering military training. It is the only way to counter external threats and guarantee Taiwan’s safety and stability.
Gong Lin-dong is a research fellow who focuses on the Chinese Communist Party.
Translated by Fion Khan
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