President Lai Inaugurates New Artillery School in Tainan
Taiwan's army has opened a new artillery training school in Tainan as part of the government's initiatives to improve troop recruitment, retention and combat power. President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony and delivered words of encouragement for what the new facility could mean for Taiwan's army.
Artillery Base Opens in Southern Taiwan
REPORTER:
Here at the army’s newest artillery school – units will learn the latest tactics and technologies needed to defend Taiwan.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te attended its opening ceremony, alongside defense ministry officials and local politicians – all here to usher in a new phase of military preparedness for Taiwan’s armed forces.
REPORTER:
Speaking in front of HIMARS artillery platforms and land sword missiles, Lai sounded confident in the military's growing capabilities.
Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):
Just now, I saw the HIMARS
and also the Land Sword II missile
Independently developed and produced
by our Chung-Shan Institute.
In the future, the artillery school
will certainly be able to shoulder the mission
of strengthening our nation’s combat capabilities.
REPORTER:
Officials here say the new facility will teach Taiwan’s troops to use new technology to make Taiwan’s big guns even more deadly.
Domestically developed artillery is housed alongside US-sourced weapons, among other equipment.
The base opens as Taiwan works to build up its military in an effort to counter China... which views Taiwan as part of its territory as has threatened to take the country by force.
Part of this push has been a focus on improving recruitment and retention, with this new base meant to house some 2,600 cadets and officers once it’s fully online.
Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):
[Compared to existing campuses], the administrative areas
classrooms and training grounds
and our officers’ and soldiers’ dorms and housing areas
are all much improved
so they can meet our increasingly demanding needs.
REPORTER:
This comes as Taiwan’s legislature remains locked in a fierce debate over defense spending and US arms sales.
Opposition lawmakers are blocking President Lai’s special 40 billion US dollar defense budget, raising concerns over the fate of the proposal.
REPORTER:
On Wednesday the defense ministry said that several advanced weapons — including artillery, rocket launchers, and drones — have already received approval from the U.S. Congress.
Pretty soon thousands of new recruits should be learning to use them here in southern Taiwan.
Fuhua Hung and Lery Hiciano in Tainan for TaiwanPlus.
