Military

Government Web site shows PLA propaganda

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 15, 2015
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Parents and politicians on Tuesday were infuriated when they found a

Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi, second left, attends an interpellation session yesterday in the legislature in Taipei. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi, second left, attends an interpellation session yesterday in the legislature in Taipei. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

government-sponsored educational Web site to promote national defense concepts showing a video of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on parade, along with about 40 World War II movies that were produced by the Chinese government.

The controversy also riled opposition legislators at the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting yesterday, who accused top military officials of negligence for helping Chinese propaganda materials reach Taiwanese.

The Web site that broadcast the videos is among the programs managed by the National Defense Education Center, a collaboration between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education, and is based at Hsinchu Senior Girls’ High School in Hsinchu City.     [FULL  STORY]

Task force to investigate AT-3 training aircraft crash in Taiwan

Want China Times
Date: 2015-09-27
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

The Republic of China Air Force said Saturday that it has set up a task force to investigate

The debris of the aircraft was spotted four days after the crash. (Photo courtesy of Military News Agency)

The debris of the aircraft was spotted four days after the crash. (Photo courtesy of Military News Agency)

the crash of an AT-3 Air Force Academy training aircraft in a mountainous area of central Taiwan during a training flight earlier this week, killing its two pilots.

The bodies of the pilots and debris of the aircraft were found in the woods in the mountainous areas of Hualien county early Saturday afternoon after days of search and rescue efforts, the military said. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers on Tuesday.

The Air Force said it has set up a task force to look into the cause of the incident.

Due to bad weather on Saturday afternoon, the military has suspended its effort to bring the debris and the bodies of the pilots back to the academy in the southern city of Kaohsiung for further investigation. The military is expected to continue the mission Sunday morning, the Air Force said.

In a statement Saturday, the Ministry of National Defense expressed deep sorrow over the death of the pilots.     [FULL  STORY]

Bodies of AT-3 pilots retrieved

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-09-27
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The bodies of two missing AT-3 pilots were retrieved and airlifted to the Gangshan Air 6704840Force Academy in Kaohsiung City Sunday noon as family members of the deceased waited in solemn despair upon their arrival.

In full military honors, the bodies of Major Wang Chin-chun and First Lieutenant Huang Chun-jung were lowered onboard a S-70C helicopter to an awaiting ambulance as their colleagues from the Air Force saluted and wept through the passing of their brothers-in-arms.

The wreckage of the AT-3 plane was discovered after a helicopter team had located the crash site around 6 a.m. Saturday. The ground rescue teams made up of special forces soldiers also managed to find the two bodies inside around noon.

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, an Air Force S-70C rescue helicopter hovering above the crash site has had to abandon its attempt to airlift the dead pilots to return to its airbase in Hualien to refuel. However, the crew returned around nine in the morning and on their second attempt, the airlift was successful.     [FULL  STORY]

Search continues for missing military aircraft, pilots (update)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/24
By: Elaine Hou

Taipei, Sept. 24 (CNA) The military has yet to locate an AT-3 Air Force Academy training 201509240033t0001aircraft and its two pilots after the plane lost contact with air traffic controllers two days ago during a routine training flight.

In a statement issued Thursday evening, the Ministry of National Defense said that the military has continued to look for the pilots and the aircraft, which was last seen on radar screens in the skies over central Taiwan early Tuesday afternoon.

Since the incident, the military has sent more than 550 servicemen and deployed several helicopters as part of the search effort, but no signs of the twin-engine jet or its crew have been found, the ministry said.

The ministry said that several aircraft were deployed Thursday to continue the search and rescue mission.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s armed forces want 16,360 volunteer recruits in 2016

Want China Times
Date: 2015-09-20
By: CNA

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said Friday that it will seek to recruit 16,360

ROC marines land on Jialutang beach during an amphibious landing exercise on Sept. 10. (Photo/CNA)

ROC marines land on Jialutang beach during an amphibious landing exercise on Sept. 10. (Photo/CNA)

volunteer military soldiers in 2016, reiterating that it remains committed to shifting from conscription to an all-volunteer force.

The target for 2016 is higher than the average number of volunteer soldiers in previous years, the ministry said in a statement.

Noting its target number of 14,000 for 2015, the ministry said it had recruited 12,180 as of Sept. 17, and it expressed optimism that the target can be reached.

From 2012-2014, the ministry on average has recruited 12,345 volunteer soldiers each year, it said.

As Taiwan is shifting to an all-volunteer force, the ministry said it will continue to push for measures aimed at improving the military environment and offering incentives to attract more people to pursue a military career.     [FULL  STORY]

Han Kuang 31 enters third day of exercises with live artillery drill

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-09-10
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Han Kuang 31 moved on to its third day of military exercises Thursday showcasing

Han Kuang 31 enters third day of exercises. Central News Agency

Han Kuang 31 enters third day of exercises. Central News Agency

live-fire drills of artillery and mortar units from the Republic of China Army’s 532th Armored Brigade, including simulated anti-amphibious beach assault carried out by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

President Ma Ying-jeou supervised the drill, applauding the successful maneuvers undertaken by his troops to fend off enemy invasion.

Artillery and mortar shells blasted enemy targets, demonstrating military preparedness to ward off opposing forces attacking naval supply vessels heading to shore.

For the artillery drill, the armored brigade fired from 155mm M109A2 cannons, 39-caliber 155mm M109A5 Howitzers, and self-propelled M110A2’s M107 175mm SP Guns.     [FULL  STORY]

Despite improved ties with China, Taiwan won’t let guard down: Ma

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/10
By: Elaine Hou

Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said Thursday that Taiwan will not let 201509100013t0001its guard down and will remain committed to maintaining its self-defense capabilities, even though ties across the Taiwan Strait have improved to the point that they are the most stable in 66 years.

He made the remarks after observing artillery forces in an anti-amphibious landing exercise earlier in the day that simulated an attempt by Chinese forces to land on the shores of Hsinchu in northern Taiwan, as part of the annual Han Kuang series of military exercises.

While addressing the 800 participating soldiers and officers, Ma said that since he took office in May 2008, his administration has been pushing for peaceful development in the Taiwan Strait.     [FULL  STORY]

NT$2.9bn budget pitched for Taiwan’s indigenous submarine project

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-31
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday submitted a budget proposal of NT$2.9

The Hai Lung, one of two submarines the ROC Navy acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s. (Photo/China Times)

The Hai Lung, one of two submarines the ROC Navy acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s. (Photo/China Times)

billion (US$89 million) to the Legislative Yuan for an indigenous submarine project.

The Navy is planning to launch the first phase of the project next year, starting with a design contract, and has proposed a budget of NT$500 million (US$15.4 million) for the first year of the project.

The full submarine project, spread over four years, is estimated to cost NT$2.9 billion, the proposal stated.

According to the ministry’s proposal, NT$820 million (US$25.2 million), spread over three years from 2016 to 2018, has been estimated for the Navy’s construction of assault ships and rigid hull inflatable boats, with NT$70 million (US$2.15 million) to be spent in the first year.      [FULL  STORY]

Public welcome to see choppers: MND

APACHE ATTRACTION:The defense ministry said group tours can be organized, after a public petition to be allowed to see the helicopters like a local celebrity did

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 25, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said it would allow people to visit and

Ministry of National Defense spokesman David Lo, left, looks on as Major General Huang Kuo-ming speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times

Ministry of National Defense spokesman David Lo, left, looks on as Major General Huang Kuo-ming speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times

see Apache helicopters at the nation’s military bases during open house days or through group applications after a Facebook petition by 270,000 netizens.

“The ministry has always allowed public visits to our military bases on open house days, and during these visits, we also showcase our weaponry,” ministry spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) told a news conference yesterday afternoon.

“There will be a few camp visit events later this year, and we plan to showcase the Apache helicopters to those who might be interested,” he added.

As for people who cannot make it on camp visit days, the ministry would allow visits organized by institutions and groups if they file applications for approval, he said.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan still in market for U.S. submarines: MND

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/24
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) A day after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said that Taiwan is 201508240025t0001committed to building its own submarines, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry insisted on Monday that it had still not given up on the idea of buying submarines from the United States.

Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman Maj. Gen Luo Shou-he (羅紹和) said submarines are on the priority list of weapons Taiwan needs because they have a strong deterrent value and can help protect the safety of Taiwan’s marine territory.

Taiwan is pursuing the expansion of its submarine fleet through two channels: continuing to seek arms sales from the United States and building submarines on its own, Luo said.     [FULL  STORY]