President Lai urges military to enhance combat resilience

Taipei, March 26 (CNA) Taiwan's military should continue improving its organizational structure and enhancing the troops' practical combat training, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Wednesday.

At a ceremony in Taipei marking the promotion of six armed forces officers, Lai expressed hope that the military would "review the organizational structure of the main combat, defense and reserve forces" and, through regular exercises, test the troops' ability to carry out joint operations.

The aim is to enhance the troops' "combat resilience" through practical exercises, Lai said, noting that the "immediate response" drills conducted in Taiwan from March 17-21 were part of such efforts.

The five-day drills were designed to test the military's response in the scenario where the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) unexpectedly escalated military exercises or "gray zone" activities -- coercive actions that fall short of an open conflict -- near Taiwan into a real attack operation.

"In the face of the convergence of authoritarian forces" and "the growing gray-zone intrusions" from China, Lai said, Taiwan's armed forces must employ asymmetric warfare tactics while at the same time demonstrating their resolve to defend the country.

Lai added that his administration remained committed to reforming the military and progressive troop modernization.

Colonel Tung Shuai-ku (董帥谷), Tang Cheng (湯成), Chang Ching-tai (張景泰) and Lee Tsung-tai (李宗泰) from the Army, and Colonel Chou Wen-hisang (周文祥) from the Air Force were all promoted to the rank of major general.

Captain Huang Chao-hsing (黃超興) from the Navy was promoted to rear admiral.

According to Lai, the six officers have made contributions in various areas, including talent development, combat readiness and cyber warfare drills, and military promotion.