President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) presided over the commissioning and opening ceremony for a new barracks at Ching Chuan Kang Army Base on Friday, where he visited new facilities, cut ribbons, awarded bonuses, and lunched with representatives.
In a speech, Lai acknowledged that some of the facilities in the Ching Chuan Kang Army Base had seen over 50 years of use. He continued that former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) began the Xing’an Project as a means to improve officer’s quality of life– also his primary concern as Commander in Chief. The completion of this project, he said, is threefold: enabling armed servicemen to focus more on their training and protecting the country, enhancing their sense of duty, but also encouraging their sense of belonging. He expressed the hope that seeing the government's dedication to improving conditions will inspire more quality recruits, and in turn, the effectiveness of the army overall.
The president thanked the hardworking members of the Navy and the National Army, especially those in the 234th Brigade, for their tireless attention to their posts. He emphasized that defending the country and its people is the most important mission of the National Army. In a time when authoritarian powers are convening and regional stability is challenged, the stability of the National Army allows Taiwan to pursue its free and democratic way of life. Lai said that the government will continue to pursue various reforms to enhance the overall service environment and encourage the servicemembers to continue in their duties, which enable the Taiwanese people to live and work in peace in the new year.