President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, visited the Han Kuang Exercise on the 14th, observing the navy’s defensive mine-laying drills and live-fire exercises. He emphasized that these silent yet resolute forces continue to safeguard Taiwan’s democratic way of life and expressed gratitude to every member of the armed forces for their dedication and perseverance, showcasing Taiwan’s determination and efforts in self-defense to the world.
In a Facebook post, President Tsai Ing-wen mentioned that the “Han Kuang No. 41 Exercise” is ongoing, and on the 14th he visited Kaohsiung to understand the navy’s defensive mine-laying drills and live-fire exercises, conveying his deepest respect and appreciation to the brothers and sisters of the armed forces who safeguard national security.
President Tsai remarked that Taiwan is surrounded by the sea, and the military follows the strategic guidance of “defensive fortification and layered deterrence,” leveraging geographical advantages to form a solid defensive line through asymmetric warfare, with naval mine warfare being a crucial component of this defense chain.
“Naval mines can be rapidly deployed and activated to create combat power immediately, effectively delaying enemy movements and disrupting their rhythm. Particularly, our navy primarily focuses on defensive mine-laying, which can buy valuable time for the defending side and serve as a deterrent at sea,” said Tsai Ing-wen.
During his visit to the naval mine maintenance site, President Tsai witnessed the navy’s efforts to expedite mine maintenance by continuously establishing maintenance facilities in various regions, with personnel explaining the detailed mine maintenance process to him. He then boarded a fast mine-laying boat to oversee the mine-laying system and received a briefing from the amphibious reconnaissance and search battalion on nearshore defense special operations.
Tsai Ing-wen remarked that the naval mine-laying squadron was officially established in 2022, equipped with four “nationally built” fast mine-laying boats and an automated mine-laying system developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, enabling the navy to swiftly and effectively accomplish missions during mine-laying operations.
These silent yet resolute forces continue to safeguard Taiwan’s democratic way of life, and Tsai expressed gratitude to every member of the armed forces for their dedication and perseverance, allowing the world to witness Taiwan’s determination and efforts in self-defense.