President Tsai Ing-wen has visited troops stationed on the outlying island of Kinmen.
Tsai’s visit comes several days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, a popular time for family gatherings in Taiwan. Tsai offered encouragement and thanks to military personnel on Kinmen.
She also spoke about the island’s importance to cross-strait peace. Kinmen is just off the coast of Mainland China. The island was both a cold war frontline and among the first places where travel links with Mainland China resumed after decades of separation. Tsai praised the unity between military personnel and civilians on the island.
Tsai also addressed concerns about the pensions of retired military personnel, promising that the government will care for former soldiers.