President Ma Ying-jeou visited the Armed Forces Cultural Center in Taipei on the morning of August 29 to attend activities to mark 2014 ROC Armed Forces Day and All-Out Defense Education Day. The president also presented awards to recognize outstanding military personnel as well as persons who have distinguished themselves in the promotion of national defense education.
In remarks, President Ma stated that this marks the sixth time that he has attended these events since taking office in 2008. He pointed out that this year the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has selected 48 model individuals and 26 model units in the military that have exhibited excellence in war preparedness, thus setting outstanding examples and boosting morale. Furthermore, he commented, 28 members of the military and 47 civilians have been singled out for bringing dignity to the military and contributing to all-out defense education. Their efforts have instilled national defense concepts among the public and fostered respect for the military, the president said.
President Ma noted that this year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy (originally located at Guangzhou of mainland China's Guangdong province). The president, in explaining the spirit of the Whampoa Military Academy, recalled that the ROC dispatched soldiers in 1942 to Burma to help British troops fight against Japanese invaders. The ROC forces performed brilliantly, routing Japan's 18th division and showing the Allied forces that the ROC military was a capable fighting machine that could effectively come to the aid of Allied forces and fulfill its role as an ally. And the status of the ROC was thus enhanced. President Ma lamented, however, that some 100,000 ROC soldiers sacrificed their lives during the campaign, and the remains of some are still overseas after more than 70 years. He noted that in August of this year, the MND was able to bring spirit tablets for the dead soldiers back to Taiwan, and these were entered into the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine on August 27. President Ma said he asked the ministry on September 3 at the fall memorial to those who died in service of the nation to air films about the events overseas where these soldiers gave their lives. He stated that this would enable the public to understand the contributions of these soldiers and the significance of the tablets being placed at the Martyrs' Shrine.
The president then discussed the importance of the military in disaster preparedness and rescue. He said that based on the principles of hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, as well as emphasizing disaster preparedness over disaster relief and evacuation over other preparedness measures, the government is actively preparing for disasters, deploying troops with an eye to disaster preparedness, and ensuring readiness for rescue operations. For example, the president said, 36 hours before a typhoon warning is issued, military forces should have already dispatched soldiers to sensitive areas and efforts should be underway to set up shelters in preparation for possible evacuation. In addition, he pointed out, the military was immediately at the disaster scenes after the July 23 crash of an aircraft in the Penghu islands and in the gas explosions of July 31 in Kaohsiung City. President Ma said that soldiers worked tirelessly in disaster relief and have helped people to rebuild their homes. He stated that he was proud to see how the armed forces have worked with the public.
The president then touched on the topic of the volunteer army system, which is currently being promoted. He explained that in the past, the period of compulsory military service was too short, and men of conscription age completed their service not long after they began their duty, which affected combat capabilities. So the government has actively promoted a volunteer army system while working to improve compensation for military personnel and career planning for them after they retire, he said. President Ma remarked that recruitment has gone well, noting that the armed forces needed about 10,500 volunteers this year but as of August 20 over 24,000 people had registered. On an annual basis, this, he said, translates to more than double the number of recruits needed this year. The president stated that after the exam and selection process, 9,142 individuals were selected, up by 3,015, or 49.2%, from the same period last year. He also mentioned that the number of soldiers who have volunteered to continue their service has risen from an average of 42.3% during the past four years to 55.7%, a rise of 13.4%.
President Ma also explained the government's active efforts to maintain regional peace and protect national security, citing as examples the signing of a fisheries agreement with Japan, the reaching of a consensus with the Philippines on law enforcement at sea, and the signing of 21 agreements with mainland China. He said that The Guardian newspaper from the United Kingdom praised the reciprocal visits by the heads of the agencies on each of the Taiwan Strait responsible for cross-strait affairs, and applauded the fact that the ministers referred to each other by their formal titles during those meetings.
Lastly, the president mentioned that the government, in an effort to promote all-out defense education, frequently holds an "Air Force Summer Camp" and a "Spratly Islands Program" to teach young people how the military protects national territory. This, he said, enables the public to better realize the importance of national defense. In addition, President Ma stated, next year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROC's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and retrocession of Taiwan. He said that the MND will hold a series of celebratory activities to highlight the contributions of the armed forces to the nation.