On August 23, the 55th anniversary of the August 23 Artillery War in Kinmen, President Ma Ying-jeou was accompanied in the morning by Secretary-General to the President Timothy Chin-Tien Yang (楊進添) and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lu Hsiao-jung (陸小榮) on a visit to the offshore island of Kinmen, where the president delivered an address to officers and soldiers at the Kinmen Defense Command. The president also visited an army tank battalion and paid his respects at the Taiwushan Martyrs' Shrine. From there he went to Peace Park to attend a ceremony to ring a bell and engage in prayer.
In his address at the Qingtian Hall to the officers and soldiers of the Kinmen Defense Command, the president stated that 55 years earlier the Chinese communists launched a surprise artillery attack on Kinmen that lasted for 44 days. The Chinese communists, he said, fired a total of over 470,000 artillery shells on Kinmen, which covers an area of 150 square kilometers, meaning that each square kilometer was littered with 3,160 shells on average. The president noted that the high density of the artillery bombardment was unprecedented in world history. Nonetheless, the determination of the nation's military to defend the territory never wavered, he said. This bombardment, which shocked the world, marked a battle to ensure the survival of the ROC, the president said, adding that the military and the public worked as one to defend the homeland, thereby protecting the integrity of Kinmen, Matsu, Taiwan, and Penghu, and solidifying the foundation for the stable development of the ROC over the subsequent half century.
President Ma stated that even though a gradual reconciliation has taken place between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and relations are now more peaceful than at any time in the past 64 years, this does not mean that there is no threat to Taiwan's security. The president said that the ROC cannot let down its guard. To obtain necessary weapons and systems that the ROC is unable to produce itself, the government will continue to purchase such items from the United States, he commented. The president pointed out that the United States in 1982 agreed to the so-called "Six Assurances," two of which were "the U.S. would not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan" and "would not consult with China in advance before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan." As for recent reports that mainland China and the United States have set up a working group to discuss the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, President Ma said the government had asked US authorities about the accuracy of the reports and was assured that they were not true.
The president stated that we commemorate the 823 Artillery War not just to memorialize a proud page in history for the nation's military, but also to remind ourselves of the need to continue working for the long-term security of the nation. President Ma then shared his thoughts on four crucial issues, namely recognizing the contributions of the military, carrying out reform within the military, forging unity within the military and caring for military family members, and being proud of having served in the military.
The president stressed that the military has made distinguished contributions by recovering Taiwan from Japan, protecting Taiwan, aiding in the development of Taiwan, and defending Taiwan, adding that the public recognizes these achievements. In particular, Taiwan has experienced frequent natural disasters in recent years and the military has exhibited efficiency and discipline in preparing for all contingencies, putting manpower in place, and immediately engaging in rescue and relief. The military has won the admiration of the public for these efforts, he remarked. President Ma acknowledged, however, that the unfortunate death of army corporal Hong Zhongqiu (洪仲丘) due to abusive discipline has badly tarnished the image of the military. Members of the military, he said, have been frustrated by this situation, because the public questions whether human rights are being protected in the military. The president noted that the government has drafted a number of reforms in an effort to address this crisis in confidence, including bringing charges against 18 officers. Also, reforms to military investigation and trial procedures, as well as the method of disciplining officers and soldiers, are among 13 major reform measures that have been introduced, he said. He added that amendments to the Code of Court Martial Procedure and the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, along with the creation of a grievances committee under the Executive Yuan to handle citizens' applications for new investigations and retrials of past cases of suspected military injustice, are aimed at realizing reform and strengthening the concept among officers and soldiers of acting in accordance with administrative procedures. The president said that these efforts will help to create a stronger image for the nation's military.
President Ma reiterated that protecting the public and the nation is the basic responsibility of the military and also is the fundamental value of the military's existence. He stated that the contributions of the military should not be denied, and its dignity must not be trampled. The president said that trampling on the dignity of the military and denying the contributions of the military harms not only the military, but the nation as a whole. President Ma called on society to refrain from belittling the military solely because of an abuse of power by an extremely small group of individuals, and from denying the achievements of the military. He also expressed hope that this round of reform will be supported by the public and will enable the military to act in greater confidence and bravery in their work, thereby fulfilling the duty to protect the nation.
The president stated that the government is striving to forge greater cohesion among officers and enlisted personnel in the military, and will continue to care for the needs of military families and safeguard their interests so that military personnel can carry out their important duties without worrying that they are not supported.
President Ma mentioned that he served in the military 40 years ago, and recalls that his two years as a reserve military officer were a special, important, and extremely cherished stage in his life. The president said he is proud to have served.
The president also inspected an army tank battalion and urged the officers and soldiers to always remain loyal and to carry out their work on behalf of the nation and provide service to the public. He also stood for pictures with the members of the battalion and engaged in discussions with the group. A while later, the president attended a ceremony at the Martyrs' Shrine at Taiwushan to pay his respects to the fallen. He presented a wreath to those who lost their lives during the 823 Artillery War. After the conclusion of that ceremony, the president made his way to Peace Park to ring the bell and engage in prayer.
Prior to ringing the bell, President Ma said in remarks that the wrongs of history can be forgiven but that the lessons of history cannot be forgotten. The government, he stated, embraces an important tenet that disputes should be resolved peacefully. This has effectively eased the stalemate between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and yielded results in the East China Sea and South China Sea, he said. For instance, the president noted, the signing of a fisheries agreement between Taiwan and Japan, and the positive response of the Philippines in the Guang Da Xing No. 28 shooting incident, in which a Taiwanese fisherman was killed when a Philippine coast guard vessel fired on a Taiwanese fishing boat in overlapping exclusive economic waters, both show that disputes can be resolved without having to resort to military force. He said that Kinmen has been transformed from a battlefield to a tourist destination. This is the result of peace, reconciliation, and cooperation. He expressed hope that the public understands the importance of cherishing these achievements, which will enable the nation to continue to move forward and work towards its goal of peace.
Among those accompanying President Ma in attending the activities were Minister of National Defense Yen Ming (嚴明), Chief of the General Staff Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻), Army Commander General Lee Hsiang-chou (李翔宙), and Commander of the Kinmen Defense Command Pan Jia-yu (潘家宇).