President Tsai Ing-wen said at her year-end news conference Dec. 29 that the government is committed to developing the indigenous defense industry, boosting trade and the economy, maintaining regional peace and promoting steadfast diplomacy.
 
Speaking at the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the primary R&D organization of the Ministry of National Defense, the president reiterated the government’s determination to foster a self-sufficient domestic defense sector.
 
Tsai pledged to make annual increases to the national defense budget so as to protect the nation’s sovereignty and maintain regional stability and prosperity. “Upgrading our military capabilities is the strongest way to guarantee our national security,” she said.
 
On display during the president’s speech were models of two prototypes developed by NCSIST: a multifunctional unmanned aerial vehicle and a high-performance jet trainer. The former, designed for long-range, medium-altitude operations, will soon enter mass-production, Tsai said, with the latter expected to enter service in 2020.
 
Regarding international trade, the president said the New Southbound Policy is the nation’s key strategy for the region. The initiative aims to deepen Taiwan’s relations with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
 
Tsai said the strategy has yielded many positive results, noting that trade with target nations rose nearly 20 percent annually from January to October 2017. She added that tourism from the said nations increased by 30 percent in the same period.
 
The president said that over the next year, the government will continue to enhance relations with countries covered by the policy. In addition, small and medium enterprises as well as major firms specializing in industries such as agriculture, petrochemicals and medical care will be given the support they need to expand into new markets in South and Southeast Asia, according to Tsai.
 
With regard to cross-strait ties, Tsai said the nation is committed to maintaining the status quo. “Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities of maintaining regional security by continuing to harbor goodwill and maintaining stable, consistent and predictable cross-strait relations,” she said.

Dignity and respect, stable cross-strait relations and engagement with the international community are the collective aspirations of the Taiwan people, she added. (KWS-E)
 
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