MND head stands by IDS program amid leadership strain

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, affirmed on Wednesday (April 17) the dedication and responsibility of Huang Shu-kuang, head of Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program.

Chiu expressed gratitude for Huang's contributions and empathized with his feelings of wanting to resign. However, he emphasized that the IDS program is a team effort and will not be affected by individual changes.

The Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee had invited the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to report on the evolution and current progress of the IDS project. This follows Tuesday's news that Huang, also a consultant for the National Security Council, had resigned due to physical and mental exhaustion.

Chiu stated that some members of the project team are active and can work for a long time, and the team's work will not be affected by individual changes. He denied media claims that the submarine group will be disbanded and the "Advanced National Defense Office" will be re-established.

Regarding rumors that National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo will take over as Minister of National Defense, Chiu believes that Koo should have a certain understanding of the IDS project.