Ministry of National Defense has stated today (20^th) that in order to respond to the potential impact of frontal surface to Taiwan, the Emergency Operation Center of Ministry of National Defense and the Central Emergency Operation Center have simultaneously opened level 2 at 7:30 a.m. this morning, and the disaster prevention preparedness conference was hosted by Li Ting-Sheng, deputy chief of the general staff. Deputy chief of the general staff Li instructed each unit to closely grasp on the climate condition and the dynamics of potential disaster areas as well as maintain close contact with local governments in order to accomplish the most comprehensive disaster prevention preparedness, which minimizes disaster damages.

Ministry of National pointed out that the Armed Forces currently consists of more than 39,000 soldiers, and preparedness procedures on various machinery, including more than 2000 various wheeled vehicles, more than 300 armored cars, 11 aircrafts, 107 plastic boats and multi-functional sapper cars, have already been completed and are able to execute disaster prevention missions according to orders.

Furthermore, more than 1,800 soldiers have been preset in the main and offshore islands of Taiwan. R.O.C. Army Aviation and Special Forces Command and the marine corps have also completed the dispatch of preset special forces, where a total of 22 units that consist of 135 soldiers will be stationed at 18 potential disaster areas including Wulai of New Taipei City and Fuxing of Taoyuan in order to execute disaster missions swiftly.

Ministry of National Defense emphasized that citizens and Armed Forces soldiers & officers should not neglect the impact of torrential rain. The Armed Forces will continue to pay close attention to the subsequent development of the climate and frontal surface, and upholds the active conduct of “advance deployment, preset troops, instant prevention and response” in order to ensure the safety of citizens’ lives and property.