Taoyuan, July 4 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu inspected two major military units--the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) and the Army General Headquarters--in Taoyuan County, some 40 kilometers south of Taipei, on Tuesday.
This was part of Chen's nationwide military inspection tour designed to help the Republic of China's first opposition leader-turned-head of state to get familiar with the country's defense affairs and installations.
Vice President Annette Lu, a former Taoyuan County magistrate, accompanied Chen on his inspection tour of the two military units.
During his visit to the Chungshan institute, a stronghold of Taiwan's defense technology and weaponry development, Chen recognized the institute's achievements in developing a number of sophisticated arms and military equipment as well as an integrated combat system for the ROC's new generation of warships.
"Your efforts and achievements have helped upgrade confidence of military servicemen in the performance of locally built weaponry systems and the general public's trust in the military's capabilities to safeguard national security," Chen said.
The president also lauded the institute for its efforts to transfer some of its research results to civilian enterprises for commercial applications.
Later in the day, President Chen and Vice President Lu visited the Army General Headquarters, also located in Lungtan, Taoyuan County. Chen received a grand welcome and reviewed the army's honor guards.
In his speech delivered at a lunch meeting at the army headquarters, Chen again stressed the importance of defending national security in the face of mainland China's growing military threat. Chen further urged the army to endeavor to realize the goal of establishing a mechanized, automatic force with three-dimensional combat capabilities.