President Tsai Ing-wen has inspected the military’s annual Han Kuang Exercise in Pingtung County. Thursday’s inspection was the first time Tsai has observed a military exercise as president.
During an address to the troops, Tsai expressed her sadness at the death of four soldiers who died in a training accident prior to this year’s exercise. But she also praised the military for its hard work, saying that its display of air-ground coordination during the exercises shows that the military’s training has paid off.
This year has seen the military come under criticism for an accidental missile launch and allegations of a culture that is permissive towards abuse of animals. Tsai has emphasized the importance of operating with proper procedures. She said that she will stand in solitary with the military when it faces criticism, and that she’s also hoping to build a new military culture with a new strategic plan.