Top government officials attend ceremony on Armed Forces Day

Friday was Armed Forces Day, and to celebrate it, President Tsai and other top government officials visited the National Revolutionary Martyr''s Shrine to honor those who died in the line of duty. Although Tsai did not give a speech at the event, the previous day she spoke in a video message, thanking Taiwan''s military for its efforts amid the pandemic and rising cross-strait tensions.

On Friday morning, President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President Lai Ching-te, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun and other top officials headed to the National Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine, to attend a ceremony for those who fell in the line of duty.

The president offered a bouquet of flowers and the entire delegation bowed three times in respect. Just one day earlier, Tsai expressed her support for Taiwan’s military in a video message.

Tsai Ing-wen (Sept. 2)
President
Amid the spreading pandemic, the military has been on the front line, taking charge of mass disinfection and screening. During the water shortage, the military was also on the front line, helping out with the water supply and transportation, as well as dredging silt from reservoirs.

Tsai also listed out the contributions of the Army, Navy and Air Force in defending Taiwan’s security.

Tsai Ing-wen (Sept. 2)
President
When there is an intrusion in our airspace, the Air Force takes action immediately. When defending our waters, the Navy often goes out to sea for more than 10 days at a time. The Army and the Military Police are also working diligently every day, protecting the country.

With cross-strait tensions on the rise, Taiwan is planning to increase its defense spending for 2022 to a record-high NT$372.6 billion. Factoring in the NT$40.1 billion allocated to procure 66 F-16V jets, that would bring the total defense expenditure to over NT$400 billion. Lawmakers say increasing Taiwan’s defense spending is absolutely necessary.

Tsai Shih-ying
DPP lawmaker
This year’s proposed budget has gone up to over NT$370 billion. That’s more than in previous years. The main reason for that is that threats from neighboring countries are growing by the day. Under these circumstances we must be able to defend ourselves. So increasing the defense budget by a certain amount is necessary.

On Armed Forces Day, Taiwan’s top officials celebrated the nation’s servicepeople, offering their full support to the military.