defense challenges 結果共19筆

Explore how Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is tackling the challenges of declining conscription and volunteer numbers due to lower birth rates and COVID-19, with strategies for improvement.

President Tsai Ing-wen meets with Australian parliamentary delegation in Taipei to discuss strengthening partnerships, emphasizing security cooperation and regional stability. The talks highlight ongoing efforts to deepen economic ties and the importance of defense collaboration amid joint naval exercises in the South China Sea.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense discusses the challenges of identifying and countering cognitive warfare tactics from the CCP. Legislators debate on the best strategies to protect public morale and strengthen information resilience.

A bipartisan U.S. delegation led by Chairman Mike Gallagher expresses strong support for Taiwan during meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-te. Discussions center on bolstering defense capabilities and managing cross-strait relations amidst geopolitical challenges. #Taiwan #USsupport

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te emphasizes Taiwan’s commitment to peace, equality, democracy, and dialogue in the face of challenges from China. Lai meets with a U.S. delegation led by Representative Mike Gallagher to strengthen Taiwan’s national defense and security. Gallagher expresses continuous support for a deeper Taiwan-U.S. relationship, highlighting the integral bond between the two countries amid China’s ambitions. The meeting underscores Taiwan’s resolve to engage in peaceful, equal, democratic dialogue and protect its sovereignty.

Legislative Speaker You Si-kun met with a Lithuanian delegation led by Matas Maldeikis, chairman of the Lithuania-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group. The meeting highlighted Taiwan’s recent election, which had a voter turnout of over 70%, as a clear message from the Taiwanese people to defend democratic freedom and national sovereignty. The delegation included three deputy speakers of the Lithuanian parliament and eight other cross-party lawmakers. Speaker You noted that 2024 is a ＂super election year＂ globally, with Taiwan being the second country to hold elections this year. He also expressed his wishes for Lithuania’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in May and October 2024. The speaker emphasized that elections represent the ＂possibility of choice,＂ ＂freedom to participate in politics,＂ and ＂protection of speech,＂ which are rights unfathomable under authoritarian rule. He called on global democratic allies to unite in facing authoritarian challenges and safeguarding democracy and prosperity worldwide. Speaker You expressed gratitude for Lithuania’s support and highlighted the countries’ cooperation on humanitarian aid, particularly in helping Ukrainian students return to school.

The first group of conscripts for the one-year compulsory military service in Taipei enlisted on January 25. These 670 young men will undergo an eight-week enlistment training. The extension of mandatory military service, approved by President Tsai Ing-wen last year, has posed emotional challenges for many young couples. Girlfriends accompanied their conscripted boyfriends to the Department of Compulsory Military Service’s Alternative Service Center, offering encouragement and expressing hope that military service would help their partners overcome bad habits and become more responsible. Despite the year-long separation, conscripts expressed faith in their relationships, although they couldn’t help but worry about the lack of constant communication. Various girlfriends reassured their worried boyfriends, saying, ＂Don’t worry!＂ The Ministry of National Defense stated that the decision to extend mandatory service was influenced by changing international situations, authoritarianism, defense combat needs, and the intensity of the four-month military training. It was also based on a comparative study of conscription systems in other countries.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported that two Chinese balloons were detected crossing the Taiwan Strait median line within the previous 24 hours, with one passing over Taiwan. The balloons’ transit began on Tuesday morning, with one located 90 nautical miles west of Keelung and the other spotted 113 nautical miles west of Pingtung. Alongside the balloons, Taiwanese forces also observed seven Chinese aircraft and five naval vessels operating continuously in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait during the same period. The Republic of China Armed Forces closely monitored and responded to the situation using mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems. This announcement by the MND highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region and comes at a time of increased cross-strait tension.

The 2024 Taiwan elections, marked by a victory for the Democratic Progressive Party, have drawn global attention and sparked discussions on the island’s future relations with China and the United States. Experts analyze the implications of Lai Ching-te’s leadership and the reactions from Washington amidst rising regional tensions.

Taiwan’s selection of ＂Que＂ (缺), reflecting shortages and challenges in 2023, sets a pivotal backdrop for the upcoming General Elections. Key events like diplomatic shifts, the #MeToo movement, defense upgrades, TSMC’s global expansion, and political alliances define Taiwan’s future.

Kuomintang’s vice presidential candidate, Jaw Shaw-kong, proposes that AI should be considered Taiwan’s next ＂guardian mountain god＂ in a bid to position Taiwan as a leader in artificial intelligence. He advocates for the creation of an ＂AI Minister＂ position within various ministries, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Executive Yuan. Jaw questions the government’s plans for AI legislation and calls for a foundational AI law to address future challenges. He highlights the rapid advancements in AI technology and their ethical implications, praising the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for its contributions. Jaw emphasizes the importance of supporting academic research and corporate AI initiatives, arguing that integrating AI technologies could enhance military efficiency, a crucial consideration given Taiwan’s limited armed forces personnel.

KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong challenges the narrative of the ＂1992 Consensus,＂ stating it was not used during cross-strait negotiations. He explains that the parties involved articulated their positions orally with no unified expression, and it was later that Su Chi introduced the term. Jaw also addresses the DPP’s stance on the ＂One China＂ policy, stating that the DPP urges Beijing to acknowledge ＂One China＂ as the Republic of China, a recognition unlikely from Beijing. He critiques the DPP’s performance over their 8-year tenure and suggests that the electorate could express dissatisfaction by transferring power to the KMT. Jaw acknowledges the contributions of Taiwanese businesses to China’s economic development and asserts that Taiwan could demand economic concessions from China. He questions the need for increased defense spending and extended conscription in Taiwan in the absence of an immediate threat, stating that conflict between the two sides should and must not occur.

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has successfully delivered four Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft to the Air Force base in Taitung, completing their annual contract goal of 17 aircraft. Despite media skepticism, AIDC managed to deliver five aircraft within the remaining month, overcoming challenges caused by the global pandemic. The quartet of Brave Eagles underwent rigorous testing and validation by the Air Force before leaving AIDC’s factory. AIDC’s procurement team negotiated with international suppliers to secure critical parts, ensuring the aircraft’s timely delivery. AIDC’s commitment to national defense missions and emphasis on safety and quality were highlighted by Chairman Hu and General Manager Ma. The Brave Eagle is a significant achievement in Taiwan’s defense autonomy, and AIDC plans to continue delivering aircraft on schedule next year to enhance the nation’s defensive capabilities.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je expresses his commitment to maintaining President Tsai Ing-wen’s foreign policy trajectory in an exclusive interview. Ko advocates for friendly communication across the Taiwan Strait and emphasizes Taiwan’s opportunity to normalize its country status on the world stage. While Ko criticizes the Democratic Progressive Party’s mindset towards China, he believes Taiwan should not consider China an enemy. He emphasizes the need for Taiwan to maintain its self-defense capabilities and proposes a pragmatic approach to military strategy and international challenges. Ko compares his neutrality to his experience in emergency medicine and prioritizes care over political affiliations. He asserts the necessity for balance among the outcomes acceptable to the U.S. and China in navigating Taiwan’s international relations.

Explore the insights of Enoch Wu, founder of the Forward Alliance, on the emerging civil defense movement in Taiwan. Amid increasing tensions and challenges, Wu highlights the critical role of community resilience and preparation in national defense.

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the country’s largest war games since 1984, aim to ensure combat readiness in the event of a Chinese invasion. Recent exercises have led the military to speculate that the northern areas of Taiwan could be a targeted point for a Chinese attack. The Tamsui River is analyzed as a potential point of entry for the People’s Liberation Army, as it provides access to critical regions like Hsinchu, Taoyuan, and Taipei. Public officials have demanded live-fire drills at the river mouth to inspect defense capabilities. However, conducting such drills poses challenges due to the densely populated area and existing operations of a nearby port. The use of explosives in the river could leave sediments that are difficult to track. Defense strategies require a comprehensive understanding of their effects, and alternative strategies are being considered to bolster defense in northern Taiwan.

The Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) will host the ＂2023 Taipei Security Dialogue＂ on November 8th. Former U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Michele Flournoy, and former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor, Matthew Pottinger, will discuss the collective intimidation faced by Indo-Pacific nations. The event will feature virtual speeches focusing on measuring risks and situations in the Taiwan Strait. Scholars and experts from 10 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Czech Republic, and Japan, have been invited to address China’s challenges to global order and democracy. The dialogue will cover six themes, such as the Russo-Ukrainian War’s lessons and strategies for deterring China, implications for cross-strait relations, Chinese military and technological development, China’s global expansion, and a strategic environmental assessment of China. President Tsai Ing-wen is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the event.

A paper published by the Washington-based think tank Global Taiwanese Institute reveals findings of mainstream public opinion on Taiwanese defense. The paper, titled ＂Conversations with the Taiwanese about Taiwan’s Defense,＂ shows that 70 percent of Taiwanese are willing to fight in the event of a Chinese invasion, while 20 percent would leave and 10 percent would choose to surrender. The results are based on conversations conducted by Taiwanese-American U.S. Air Force captain Jimmy Chien during his six-week stay in Taiwan, which included discussions with university students and retirees. Chien’s research challenges the perception that increased military strength and pressure from China could lead to military action, as most Taiwanese do not consider this a likely scenario. He argues that Taiwanese people believe China must first address its domestic affairs before resorting to force against Taiwan. Chien also notes that Taiwanese people are aware that the U.S. military is unlikely to deploy troops in the event of a war, and therefore hope to receive non-combat aid, such as supplies and maintenance, from the U.S. as a show of support in battling enemy forces.

Taiwan reveals its first domestically built submarine, Hai Kun, in a significant move towards enhancing national defense. President Tsai Ing-wen underscores its role in asymmetric warfare capabilities, emphasizing the nation’s determination to protect its sovereignty. This development highlights Taiwan’s commitment to self-reliant defense in the face of evolving security challenges.