Taipei, June 29 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged newly promoted generals Tuesday to cultivate three leadership characteristics -- perseverance, wisdom and conviction.
Addressing a joint commissioning ceremony for newly promoted generals from the military's three branches, Chen said senior military officers should evaluate Taiwan's defense needs and work out effective strategies to upgrade combined services combat capabilities in the face of mainland China's ever-mounting military threat.
To cope with these new developments and challenges, Chen said, senior military officers should continually pursue new knowledge in warfare, technological and management and apply their expertise in military affairs and combat preparedness.
Chen then spoke of the qualities of a good military leader. "Military leaders need three special qualities -- perseverance, wisdom and conviction to win on battlefields and defend national security," Chen said, adding that in the face of mainland China's accelerated military modernization, all senior officers should constantly think how to promote reform in military management and combat operations as well as how to integrate limited resources to establish an elite high-tech combat force that can deal with all sorts of tough challenges.
Chen also expressed his hope that newly promoted generals can work with their colleagues in injecting a new spirit of courage, conviction and trust into the military rank and file.