President Tsai meets US General Edward Rice, former Commander of the Air Education and Training Command
Meeting on the morning of June 5 with US General Edward Rice, former Air Education and Training Command Commander, President Tsai Ing-wen stated that peace depends on strong national defense capabilities, and that our determination to pursue national defense self-sufficiency has never waned. Taiwan will fulfill its international obligation by continuing to contribute to peace in the Indo-Pacific region, said the president, and will also continue to collaborate with like-minded countries like the US to further our cooperative ties.
President Tsai began her remarks by welcoming General Rice to Taiwan, saying that she was happy to see her old friend again. She mentioned that General Rice has a wealth of experience, including important posts like Commander of US Forces Japan, and Commander of the Air Education and Training Command. He has made numerous contributions to his country, and is most knowledgeable about overall strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.
The president specially thanked General Rice for having been a senior observer at the Computer-Assisted Command Post during our Han Guang Military Exercise for three consecutive years beginning in 2016. And every year, she said, he gives us valuable suggestions that have inspired strategic thinking for her and our military, enhancing our exchanges.
President Tsai recalled that she met with General Rice for the first time at Democratic Progressive Party headquarters. That was before she took office as president, and she was very grateful for that meeting, which left a deep impression on her.
The president reiterated that peace depends on strong national defense capabilities, and that her determination to pursue national defense self-sufficiency has never waned. If we cannot resist coercion and aggression, she said, there can be no peace. So we will fulfill our international obligation by continuing to contribute to peace in the Indo-Pacific region, said the president, and we will also continue to collaborate with like-minded countries like the US to further our cooperative ties.
In closing, President Tsai stated that General Rice has some cultural events on his agenda over the next few days. But Taiwan has many places worth seeing more than once, as well as beautiful scenery and great cuisine, she said, and hopes that next time he has a chance, General Rice will travel around the island to experience the beauty of Taiwan.