President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has tried to reassure the people of Taiwan that the military is well trained and well prepared. Tsai made the comments in a speech after making an inspection of the facilities at the Hsinchu Air Base on Friday.
The comments come as the Chinese army has been carrying out military activities around the Taiwan Strait, and there have been major changes to conscription policy.
In her speech, Tsai thanked the officers and soldiers for their dedication. She reiterated that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region are the shared responsibility of both Taiwan and China, and the common interest of the international community. She said that in the face of China's military threat, Taiwan will not escalate or provoke disputes, but that the country will firmly defend its sovereignty and national security. She added that Taiwan will stand firm in defending its democracy and freedom.
The inspection highlighted how the military has been training using a high-tech live fire simulation engagement system. The president said that after the conscription period is extended to one year, new conscripts will also receive the training. She stated that she has commanded the Defense Ministry to enhance both the quality and quantity of these drills.
Meanwhile, Tsai thanked the Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital for carrying out COVID-19 screenings and vaccinations for the troops. The president also expressed appreciation for all the people of Taiwan for their dedication and efforts to make the new year a peaceful one.