Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Taiwan does not need to engage in an arms race with China, but it must have a defensive deterrence capacity, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday.
Tsai, who will take office on May 20, made the remarks after hearing reports presented by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a briefing on confidential matters.
Tsai said that the government, society and armed forces constitute the three principal pillars of a nation's defense, and that a good national defense can only be achieved when these three principal factors are consolidated simultaneously.
The incoming president said that after assuming power, she will elaborate on strategies for national defense and security in a more rigorous manner, allowing the armed forces to have a clear direction for their future development.
"My administration will be dedicated to the development of all aspects of the national defense and will pay more attention to the integration of trans-ministerial efforts," Tsai emphasized, expressing her hope that the integration of the armed forces and the civilian sector would be further enhanced, and that the the development of the national defense would contribute to economic prosperity and the upgrading of domestic industries.
"To fight for the survival and development of the Republic of China and for the safety and prosperity of the people of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu are the main missions of the armed forces," Tsai said, pledging that she will do her best to make the armed forces more respected by society and more trusted by the people.
Tsai was accompanied by vice president-elect Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), premier-designate Lin Chuan (林全) and aides specialized in national defense affairs in the briefing held at the MND, where they are warmly greeted by National Defense Minister Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻), Chief of the General Staff of the MND Gen. Yen Te-fa (嚴德發) and other senior military officers.
(By Sophia Yeh and Romulo Huang)
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