Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data Figure: Taiwan Special Forces

Liu Guangyao

to May 20 this year, Taiwan’s leader Ma Ying-jeou formally assumed office a year. In this year, he advocated adherence to the “1992 consensus” on the basis of maintaining the status quo, do not initiate military provocation, gradually easing cross-strait relations. He also efforts to develop Taiwan’s military, increasing the level of Taiwan’s construction. Chen Shui-bian then tie the “Taiwan independence” chariot of Taiwan, from the operational thinking, organizational system, military exercises and weapons and equipment construction, have undergone significant changes.

turn defensive by the attack, and actively adjust the operational thinking

operational thinking determines the direction of building an army. Chen Shui-bian “pre-emptive anti-system” operational thinking brought to Taiwan once a very dangerous situation. Ma Ying-jeou took office soon after a positive adjustment of operational thinking. August 26, 2008, he told Mexico Department of chairman Wasigaizi Sun interview, said: “We will not be taken as offensive, defensive strategy must be adopted.” Also alleged that the mainland is a threat, but also opportunity, threat to Taiwan should minimize, maximize opportunities. October 21, 2008, Ma Ying-jeou formally proposed to the Taiwan military, “defensive defense” strategy advocated, claiming that “the next four years, there will be no war between the two sides.”

Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan’s military quickly took this idea of ??carrying out military exercises and weapons into the building.

2008 September 22 to 26 at the “Han Kuang” war games in Taiwan are no longer stressed active offensive operations, gave up the regular exercise of war power save, sea and air intercept and combined operations, focusing on “the island of Taiwan’s defense.” Han Kuang military exercises is Taiwan’s largest and also most concerned about the routine military exercises, it carries Taiwan’s basic operational thinking. The exercise reflects the content of the Taiwan military offensive and defensive combat changes the basic changes in thinking, is not to emphasize the so-called “pre-emptive anti-system” and “decisive battle outside”, but the combat into a defensive strategy.

in weapons and equipment, research and development with a clear attack on Taiwan is no longer characterized by long-range strike weapons. November 1, 2008, Taiwan’s military spokesman said, according to Taiwan’s development of weapons systems “tenacious defense” policy to guide the development of “territorial defense” type of defensive weapons, and does not attack civilian targets. Also announced that Yuji E self-developed cruise missile, “is no longer sophisticated range, but instead sought to performance, stability, and began mass production.” In other words, Taiwan would not develop a range of over a thousand kilometers missiles. It releases a signal that basically gave up Taiwan’s military pre-emptive counter-operational thinking.

want to stop war, efforts to strengthen the military buildup

Ma Ying-jeou came to power, releasing a lot of peace and goodwill, also will be relaxed cross-strait relations. But Taiwan’s military buildup is not followed by relaxation, but has been enhanced.

2008 年 9 月 10, Ma Ying-jeou to Taiwan’s military officers and soldiers speech claimed that the new authorities to promote the optimization of cross-strait relations, but not in the “national defense” on the army to prepare any slack, and so if the other side One day to negotiate the peace agreement, have enough chips; if the “national army” vulnerable, this consultation is of no use, equivalent to surrender, must not have any slack. He said that on the one hand and prudent and determination, the same is also preparing to prepare, “Our objective is to stop war, we are not engaging in warfare, but definitely not afraid of war, so as to truly attainable peace, which is thousands of years many of the lessons of history told us. “series of speeches from Ma Ying-jeou, we easily see that goodwill does not mean relaxation military buildup.

but Ma is very clear, Taiwan’s own military capacity-building is very limited, in order to enhance Taiwan’s military hard power, only through the promotion of US-Taiwan arms sales, access to advanced equipment, in order to enhance Taiwan’s overall combat capability. Since Chen Shui-bian came to power during the Taiwan authorities insist the US-Taiwan arms sale was frozen. Ma Ying-jeou took office, through continuous efforts, October 3, 2008, Taiwan launched a total of more than U.S. $ 6.4 billion arms sales program. The arms, huge amount of money, weapons, variety and large quantities, so that the level of Taiwan’s military buildup has increased.

Although the US-Taiwan arms sales to start a large program, but the Taiwan authorities has not been met, they are still trying to push a new sales, in order to further strengthen the military capacity-building. February 24, 2009, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin agreed to sell Taiwan $ 1.3 billion in total value of 12 refurbished P-3C anti-submarine aircraft. Although the U.S. military used second-hand goods, but for Taiwan, which will make it jump in anti-submarine capacity.

value quality, increase the military construction standards

With the development of military technology, military construction in order to compensate for the number of quality time has gone by. Ma Ying-jeou is well aware of this, especially in the world economic crisis, Taiwan’s economic capacity is very limited. So to reduce the quantity and improving the quality of the construction of Taiwan has become the first choice.

reduce the number of troops, to improve the quality of troops, is Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou came to power for a major reform. September 23, 2008, the entire mercenary military program of Taiwan released. Under this program, five years after the establishment of Taiwan’s total to 20 million people in the following posts in the “small is beautiful”, “small but strong” professional army, full implementation of the mercenary. And conscription, compared mercenary soldiers because of their service for a long time, a higher level of training, more suitable for modern war fighting skills required for the Taiwan military combat effectiveness will be further enhanced.

in military exercises, and Taiwan are also more results-oriented. February 10, 2009, Taiwan’s military released from 2009 to 2010 a major military exercise planning. Of the most notable of the “Han Kuang military exercise” from the original annual to biennial, which in the implementation of the exercise is the first time in 24 years. In response, Taiwan’s “Ministry of Defense operations and planning times long room,” a deputy assistant to Major General Li Yue Zhang’s speech on the points to which the whole story, he said, over the years, “Han Kuang military exercises” were found in many of the problems, not solve them arrangements before the next exercise, indeed debatable. He stressed that to improve the quality of military exercises in June this year will be first on the computer simulation drills in September and then extrapolating the implementation of the map; to be completely familiar with the various forces exercise plan, and then at the appropriate time next year to start real soldiers drill. Such practices Taiwan’s sense, both the quality of care to exercise, while had some political influence, not simply to reduce the number of simple exercises.

In addition, to improve physical fitness standard is Taiwan’s another step in strengthening the quality of construction. According to media reports, Ma Ying-jeou in the “Double Ten Day” celebration ceremony, witnessed a member of the military honor guard as frail and collapsed to the ground, thus requiring “Defense Ministry” to strengthen the military physical training. Taiwan has recently introduced a set of physical standards, this standard is said to reach Asia’s most stringent standards. Ma Ying-jeou of the new physical standards established by the satisfaction that “too weak, but also re-sophistication.”

boost morale, rebuild the spirit of combat power

affect the morale of an army fighting an important factor. Chen Shui-bian came to power eight years, strongly inculcate the “Taiwan independence” ideology, the prevalence of military corruption, culture Kusakabe, resulting in low morale, lost faith, it has become Taiwan’s development ills. Ma Ying-jeou know, Taiwan’s top priority is to build a series of initiatives to boost morale, rebuild the spirit of combat power.

2008 年 6 16, in Taiwan, “Military Academy” (formerly the founding of the Whampoa Military Academy in 1924) school on the 84 anniversary of Ma Ying-jeou and speak about the Whampoa spirit. Then, Ma Ying-jeou has personally led more than 2,300 people live singing the school song Huangpu, Huangpu veteran with a lot of music tears. Chen Shui-bian came to power during the period, due to interference by the authorities, have been helpless to stop singing the school song Whampoa. Ma Ying-jeou The quartet Whampoa school song, greatly enhanced Whampoa spirit, morale is undoubtedly the pool, an important measure to boost morale.

In addition, the spirit of Taiwan’s high-level advocacy through weeks of training and combat capabilities, etc. related to political education, strengthen the “military Takenori”, and then establish a “Morijima to protect the family” political belief. July 2, 2008, Taiwan’s military spokesman pool Magnolia announced that from July 10, the recovery in 2003, abolished the military reading training. Also alleged that the military training of reading is to “temper Takenori, cultivate personal accomplishment.” Day, five schools in Taiwan’s armed forces joint graduation ceremony, Ma Ying-jeou for the first time, “Commander in Chief,” the lead time as a soldier reading training.

recently, even explosive Maiguan scandal in Taiwan. Military corruption not only damaged the image of Taiwan, but also seriously affected the morale of Taiwan. To demonstrate commitment to anti-corruption, April 8, 2009, Ma Ying-jeou held a press conference in person, he said, the recent burst of military generals after another alleged corruption case, he has asked the judicial and administrative departments have been actively investigated, speedy trial and verdict and 3-month deadline major scandal within the review report and institutional improvements.

Ma Ying-jeou of the military in a series of corruption cases in his speech, it is clear to see that he put great emphasis on improving the system. This is the key to cure the problem of corruption Taiwan. Meanwhile, Ma Ying-jeou demanding a thorough investigation of corruption in the military actions, and also the well-intentioned. He hoped that through this “peeling” type of anti-corruption act, so that Taiwan can have a “reborn” change, and thus regain their confidence, and thus enhance the morale, to strengthen the spirit of combat power purposes.