President Lai Ching-te thanked members of the ROC (Taiwan) Armed Forces for their dedication and directed them to continue sharpening their skills to demonstrate to the world their determination to safeguard their country.
Lai made the remarks while inspecting drills on the second day of the annual Han Kuang exercises July 23 in the eastern county of Hualien. The president visited both Chiashan and Hualien Air Force Bases, where he witnessed exercises on decentralized management, overall air defense, runway repairs and field hospital simulations.
Taking place on both the main island of Taiwan and outlying archipelagoes, the Han Kuang exercises have since 1984 focused on collaboration between all levels of the armed forces to execute round-the-clock missions in an actual combat mode.
Witnessing the high morale and exceptional performance of military personnel, Lai praised the success of regular training as well as the soldiers’ preparedness for potential conflict, and conveyed his hope that they would continue to exhibit such excellence during the next few days’ drills.
In later exercises, the MND’s Military News Agency reported that a brigade in the southern city of Tainan carried out a nighttime counter-infiltration practice July 23 at Anping Harbor. The agency added that an anti-landing live-fire drill was conducted July 24 in the outlying Penghu Islands.
In response to Typhoon Gaemi, the MND ended Kan Kuang operations July 25 at noon and redirected the military to assist local governments’ disaster prevention and relief efforts. (POC-E)
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