2025/10/01
Ministry of National Defense: Minister of National Defense Li-Hsiung Koo Visited the Hualien Area This Morning (October 1) to Understand the Progress of ROC Armed Forces’ Local Disaster Relief Assistance and Commend the Disaster Relief Troops
Ministry of National Defense Press Release
Time: 1900 hours, October 1, 2025
Minister of National Defense Li-Hsiung Koo visited the Hualien area this morning (October 1) to understand the progress of the ROC Armed Forces’ assistance to local disaster relief efforts and commend the disaster relief troops, expressing high concern and appreciation for the personnel’s hard work and dedication; during the visit, he also specifically went to the homes of affected personnel to show the deep camaraderie of “comrades as family” within the ROC Armed Forces.
Concerned about the ROC Armed Forces’ disaster relief troops’ rotation status, Minister Koo and his entourage traveled lightly to the Second Operational Zone, gaining an on-site understanding of recovery progress and mission handover status. He commended the first echelon personnel for their hard work and dedication in engaging in disaster relief, highly affirmed their action in effectively assisting with residential cleanup and rapidly advancing public area restoration, and expressed expectations for the newly arrived units to fully commit, coordinating with overall disaster relief planning to strive to restore citizens’ daily lives before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
During the inspection, Minister Koo was particularly concerned about the support measures provided by the operational zone for food, clothing, housing, transportation, medical care, and supplies during the personnel’s engagement in disaster relief tasks, and inspected the medical station, bathing station, and accommodation sites. Regarding the wear and tear of individual equipment such as combat boots during the disaster relief engagement, he specifically directed the disaster relief command to proactively investigate models and report requirements, aiming to fully replace them upon the personnel’s return to their units, ensuring no worries for the personnel and allowing them to focus on mission execution.
Minister Koo emphasized that ROC Armed Forces personnel are not only the main force in disaster relief but also the backbone of social stability, demonstrating a moving spirit of defending the country and protecting the people on the front lines without fear of hardship. The Ministry of National Defense will continue to provide full support and closely coordinate with local governments, with military and civilian efforts united to safeguard homes.