Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party are hailing the government’s achievements in defense policy since the party came to power. That came during a press conference held on Friday to coincide with Taiwan’s Armed Forces Day.
During the event, lawmaker Liu Shyh-fang said that President Tsai Ing-wen has brought in big changes to military affairs since taking office in 2016. Liu says the government will keep promoting policies that care for the families of service members, including providing them with childcare and social housing.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Tsai Shih-ying said the defense ministry’s reported NT$372.6 billion (US$13.5 billion) budget for 2022 is necessary to respond to increasing threats from neighboring countries. He says the military is working hard to make itself self-sufficient rather than relying on technology and support from overseas.
Tsai also said that the defense ministry is pushing forward with its recruitment system. He says that Taiwan’s military is better trained than ever before. Tsai said that the government’s moves to provide better care for service members are clear for all to see. He says the government wants to make life easier for the military so members of the armed forces can focus on being battle-ready.