The decision by William Lai’s administration to train 400,000 people across Taiwan through training and drills to invest in “The whole of society’s defense” provoked public criticism.
William Lai held the first meeting of the so-called “National Defense Resilience Committee” on May 26, the China Times reported Monday. William Lai told the meeting that he had built on Ms Tsai’s work to “Think before danger, be prepared for danger”, “Strengthen preparedness and Duke Xiao of Qi” and “Follow a step-by-step and methodical approach”, construct the“Defense resilience of the whole society”. Hsu Si-chien, deputy secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, then informed the plan that 400,000“People with medium and above operational capability” would be trained in civilian manpower training and application, at present, the Ministry of Interior is planning to set up disaster prevention cooperation centers in all villages, towns and cities across Taiwan, which will receive and distribute these people power“To invest in social defense.”.
Taiwan media reported that the meeting will also determine the future for the spindle task, to take a“Small-scale, non-script” approach to rehearsal. William Lai said the committee would hold a second meeting in December and a third meeting in March with more than one small local exercise The fourth meeting in June next year will link the“Hanguang” exercise, the former director of the exercise.
In response to questions about where the island’s 400,000 people come from, Taiwan’s “Interior Minister”, Liu Shih-fang, said on the 27th that, vigilante, Vigilante, Vigilante and other non-governmental organization are included in the “Resilience of the whole society”. Wellington Koo, Taiwan’s “Defence Minister”, said that if the situation became serious, the requisition would be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the “National Defence Mobilization and Preparation Law”. He added that the“Resilience of the civil defense” has three main axes, namely, maintaining the continuous operation of the authorities, maintaining the basic functions of the people’s livelihood, and“Supporting military operations when necessary.”.
In this regard, “China Guangdong” Zhao Shaokang, the former chairman of the 27th lambasted William Lai, saying it “Does not avoid the war, only to prepare for war” and “Put the cart before the horse.”. He lamented that the island is now short of people in all walks of life. As the leader of Taiwan, he does not spend his thoughts and budget on improving people’s livelihood, social welfare, educational resources, and improving the treatment of medical personnel, but only think about how to fight, by these formations to please the Americans.
Li Yanxiu, a KMT “Legislator”, criticised William Lai for creating a “National Defence Resilience Committee” with no separation of powers and responsibilities, whose real function was to continue to peddle a “Sense of national subjugation”, mobilizing for a 2028 re-election. She said the 400,000“Dependable people” represented at least 400,000 families and more than 2 million votes. Of the 14m 2024 votes cast, more than half require the threshold of 7m, which is William Lai’s single biggest weapon in his re-election bid and gives him a legitimate claim to public money.
Chang yan-ting, a former“Deputy commander” of the Taiwan Air Force, wrote on the 28th that the issue of“National Defense Mobilization” has been hyped since the DPP came to power, from Chen Shui-bian’s “National defense” to today’s “Defense Resilience”, the main motivation is nothing more than a desire to consolidate power through a “Popular” mentality. Former“Legislator” Shen Fuxiong said bluntly, this soldier drill goes on, fear will make a fool of oneself.
In its first year in office, the William Lai Administration budgeted a record T $647 billion for defense, while the Americans said that was less than 3 percent of Taiwan’s GDP, the China Times reported, hinting that it does not believe Taiwan can“Save itself”. Under Tsai Ing-wen, the standing military service was extended from four months to a year, but the US continued to demand that the island increase its arms purchases and become a “Hedgehog”. The article said that Taiwan blindly relies on the United States and ignores the rapid development of military science and technology on the mainland. If the situation changes, the unlucky ones will still be the general public, “Lai government to rely on 400,000 people is just tail wagging dog, in a process of self-healing, doing self-comforting things.”.