President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 6 that the ROC (Taiwan) air force is boosting the confidence of the people as it performs its sacred duty of defending the country’s freedom, democracy and sovereignty.
The commitment, dedication and sacrifice of the air force are recognized and respected by the citizenry, Tsai said. It is also clearly understood that the role of this important branch of the armed forces is equally crucial during times of war and peace, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while inspecting the air force’s 6th Combined Wing in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County. During the visit, she was briefed on the wing’s operations and training facilities, as well as the mission capabilities of its C-130 Hercules transport, E-2K Hawkeye early warning and P-3C Orion antisubmarine aircraft.
According to Tsai, the wing is responsible for ferrying members of the military and civilians between Taiwan proper and the outlying islands, as well as monitoring the activities of aircraft and submarines in the vicinity of the country. These vital tasks go on around the clock and come with a heavy responsibility, she said.
Recent media coverage of exercises involving the wing’s aircraft and personnel earned widespread public praise, Tsai said. There is a greater appreciation of the talented people involved and deeper understanding of what it takes to successfully complete missions day in and day out, she added.
Tsai urged the wing not to rest on its laurels and continue maintaining maximum vigilance in the face of China’s ongoing campaign of coercion against Taiwan. It is essential the air force keeps delivering the highest levels of performance bolstered by an unshakeable belief in the value of freedom, democracy and perseverance, she said. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw