President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday attended a promotion ceremony in Taipei for 31 senior military officers, his first since his inauguration on May 20.
In a speech, Lai reiterated that the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are not subordinate to each other.
The Ministry of National Defense honored seven lieutenant generals and 24 major generals who have been promoted this year.
Photo: CNA
Lai affirmed the commitment to duty of the nation’s military personnel and wished the fathers in attendance a happy Father’s Day.
China’s hybrid warfare against Taiwan, such as its unannounced, large-scale military drills around Taiwan, has resulted in regional instability, Lai said.
Taiwan, as a member of the international community, would strive to maintain the “status quo,” and protect regional peace and stability, he said.
“Our invariable commitments are that we adhere to a free and democratic constitutional system, that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other, that the nation will resist annexation or encroachment upon its sovereignty, and that the future of the Republic of China (Taiwan) must be decided by the 23.5 million people in Taiwan,” Lai said, citing the “four commitments” laid out by former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in 2021.
That is why the government has promoted national defense reform by reinstating one-year conscription, and procuring weapons to buttress its military strength and defense capabilities, the president added.
Taiwan’s enhanced military capabilities were shown in the Han Kuang exercises last month, he said, adding that the goal is to ensure the nation’s survival and development, and to protect people’s lives and property.
In the era of artificial intelligence, challenges include drones, smart or decentralized command structures, and unified kill chains involving multiple arms, as reflected in the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, he said.
The military must keep up with these trends to strengthen its capabilities, Lai said, adding that he would work with the ministry to ensure a peaceful and prosperous democratic Taiwan.
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