President Tsai used the occasion of a recent military event to give remarks on Taiwan’s defense, and oversee the promotion of the Army’s first female lieutenant general.
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President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended a military ceremony on Monday in which officers among the several branches were promoted, and gave a speech on Taiwan’s defense. In her speech, she stated that the recent spread of authoritarianism across the globe threatens world peace, that Taiwan needs a defensive force that keeps pace with the times, and that the more united Taiwan is, the stronger it will be.
Her speech at the military event comes amid several defense related issues that are front and center in Taiwan. Earlier Monday morning, the defense ministry reported that 71 Chinese planes and 7 Chinese naval ships crossed the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait. Tsai is also expected to make an announcement in the near future on whether or not compulsory military service will be extended from four months to one year. However, President Tsai did not answer questions on this topic when asked by reporters, instead simply giving a nod.
The event did see however the promotion of Chen Yulin (陳育琳) to the rank of lieutenant general, the first female in history of Taiwan’s army to reach the rank. Chen’s promotion is a point of pride even as the military is facing serious challenges.