Glory belongs to the people who worked hard during the day! I am very happy to be here today, on the eve of the Armed Forces' Day, accompanied by Vice President Lu, to confer these awards to you, who have been selected among the best as the model, the example of your respective units.
This hard-earned glory represents the care and support that each of you gave to the armed forces. You have contributed to the readiness of our armament, and you have won affirmation for your action, making you the examples of our country's people. I would also like to present my highest respect to the families of our armed forces' members; because of your sacrifice, support and encouragement to them, they become the elites of our country's defense.
In my televised speech on the Armed Forces' Day that will be broadcasted tonight, I especially remind the people of our country to cherish everything we enjoy on this island of Taiwan, because it is the most precious treasure that comes from the protection provided by our armed forces. On the other hand, the people living on this island will be seriously affected if our national security would be challenged, or threatened by any possible Chinese military invasion. If technology of military armament could not improve, and our people would not be united, then national security would be challenged. When China invades Taiwan, all the inhabitants of this island will be affected.
There are a few things, which I think are not echoing the sacred mission that soldiers are being assigned. That is the ongoing military purchase of three kinds of weapons that are being delayed due to our country's political reasons and the voices of public opinion. I strongly believe that the Republic of China's armed forces is an army with a glorious history and a fine tradition. In the army, there is no individual heroism nor the existence of flattery. There is only the strong loyalty to the country and its people.
Being the commander of the three armies, I only care about how to let our men have good equipment in order to strengthen self-defense capabilities. What I care the most is how to implement the armed forces' "three safeties", which are "safety in the barracks, securing the families of our men, and make the families be reassured that their family member is unharmed while on duty". Therefore, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to reiterate that our armed forces "fight for the existence and development of the Republic of China and the safety and wealth of its people". The armed forces have the responsibility to protect the people and act as the country's most solid protection securing its national sovereignty and safety within its territory.
I would also like to share a few opinions with you:
To understand thoroughly the enemy's threat and to counter their united front tactics
The Chinese government passed the so-called "anti-separation law", expressing their intention to resolve the Taiwan Strait issue with non-peaceful means. Besides that, few leaders of the People's Liberation Army keep on verbally threatening Taiwan of a nuclear war, aiming to urge unification through the use of military force. Then the Chinese authorities tried to create a false image of peace and started to ally opposition and civilian parties of our country; they even brought up the recent issues of zero import tax on Taiwanese fruits exported to China and giving pandas as a gift to Taiwan, in an attempt to misguide the attention and the opinion of the international community, and above all, to undermine the psychological preparedness of our people.
Facing the Chinese government's flexible "two-sided" united front tactics, our people and our soldiers must thoroughly be aware of the Chinese government's belligerent nature. There is only one target for their united front tactics as well as their military threat, which is to force Taiwan give up its national sovereignty and dignity.
I would like to emphasize that our will to rebuff the enemy is strong. Our stance on protecting freedom and democracy, securing national sovereignty and dignity is firm. The government will seek to reach the greatest interest and wealth for the people under a democratic and equal framework across the strait. Only if our people have confidence in the government and themselves could we resist the enemy's tricks, such as their zero-tax-fruit-import trick and their rapprochement with our civilian parties.
To have the sense of crisis and strengthen defensive military powers
The United States, Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries have recently expressed their concern and anxiety on China's military power expansion. The joint military exercise last week in which China and Russia took part not only mobilized modern and advanced weapons unseen before, but also raised all parties' attention to its large scope. By analyzing the intention of this joint exercise, we can easily find out that they took Taiwan as an imaginary target; and it is also aimed at showing their military might to the United States, Japan and other countries. By this military exercise, the Chinese government not only unveiled the international community its expanding its armament, increasing deployment of missiles, strengthening their payload capability, but also brought new factors that might change the situation between Taiwan and China.
Facing the threat of more than 700 missiles aiming at Taiwan's 23 million people, we can no more ignore the danger that military unbalance could bring to the Taiwan Strait nor expect any good will gesture from the enemy or help from a third country.
In an attempt to show sympathy towards part of the opposition parties, the government did some more pragmatic modifications in the military budget which target is to acquire the three weapons, as the policy to acquire them hasn't changed. I strongly urge that both the opposition and ruling party could give up the prejudice they have on each other and let the budget pass at the legislature through reasonable dialogue and professional auditing. By this act of ours, we could also declare to the international community on Taiwan's determination to defend itself.
To unite the people's will against the enemy and consolidate the people's mental fortitude
Among the representatives of civilians being respectful to soldiers who are here present, most of you are prominent leaders from local governments or are successful personalities in various domains. By your concrete actions, each of you showed your support and care to the armed forces, which proves that soldiers and civilians are one. Being the commander in chief of the three armies, I would like to present my gratitude to all the men of our armies and to you. Your participation in the armed forces not only boosted up the spirit of our troops, but also established a good example of cooperation between military and civilians.
The Armed Forces' Day of September 3rd this year is not only dedicated to soldiers; it also carries a whole new historical meaning. Following an online voting, September 3rd has also become the "Education of Civilian-Based-Defense Day". Since that the "Education on Civilian-Based-Defense Law" has passed at the Legislative Yuan, this "Education of Civilian-Based-Defense Day" is considered as another milestone in our country's civilian-based defense. The courses of civilian-based defense's education will be implemented next year and will be taught in schools, governmental departments and social education authorities. The courses will mostly be about the protection of national defense relics, propaganda and education of defense policies so that our people could strengthen their awareness on national defense.
To upgrade the armed forces' armament and secure the advantages of our armed forces' superiority
During the past years, our armed forces have proceeded to a series of military reforms, which is to do readjustments in military power deployment and organization transformation. The organization of our armed forces has changed during the past recent years, from the "military downsizing and enhancement program" to the "streamlining our military organization by reducing levels of command and reasonably adjusting the size of our military" and to the enrollment and training of voluntary servicemen. These are the proofs that our armed forces keep on mutating and scaling each step towards a higher peak of progress.
I am especially proud and relieved of our country's achievement in establishing a neutral and nationalized armed forces. But we must not be satisfied. We have to keep on going and improve ourselves. The frustrations and difficulties we meet should become the motivation for breakthrough. Then we are ready ourselves to receive newer and more modern weapons and enter an era of high-tech to preserve our superiority in quality.
Finally, I wish you all the best. Thank you!