Ministry of National Defense Reference Material
Time: 2020/1/12 14:00
I.Press Conference Topic:
Planning for the “Move Bier and Spirit Awakening Salute” & “Joint Public Funeral Ceremony” for Generals and Soldiers Perished in the Line of Duty on 2nd January
II.Press Conference Attendees:
1.Lieutenant General Wang Chun-hsiung - Political Warfare Director of Air Force Command Headquarters
2.Major General Dong Pei-lun - Director of Personnel and Military Affairs Department of Air Force Command Headquarters
III.Explanation on the Planning of “Move Bier and Spirit Awakening Salute” for Generals and Soldiers Perished in the Line of Duty:
1. Foreword:
Admiral Shen Yi-ming, Chief of the General General Staff, along with 7 generals and soldiers perished in the line of duty on 2nd January this year, when heading to the Dong’ao Ling Radar Station to comfort and encourage the combat readiness troop, while taking a Black Hawk helicopter. To commend and retrospect the Chief of the General Staff and 7 remarkable generals and soldiers who perished in the line of duty, a move bier and spirit awakening will take place on 13th and 14th of January with a solemn and ceremonious spirit and officer and solider representatives along the scheduled route. Citizens are welcome to participate in the event to pay their respect in these fallen comrades’ paradigm of martial virtue and to console the devoted souls.
2. Salute Planning
(1) Move Bier Salute:
1. Time: 2020/1/13 (Monday) 17:00
2. Move Bier Fleet Marching Route:
The move bier fleet will depart from Huaide Hall of Tri-Service General Hospital, and adopts “Slow Directing” by advancing in a speed of 10-15km/h on a total distance of approximately 13km. The fleet will drive pass Ministry of National Defense, Air Force Command Headquarters, and Navy Command Headquarters, and is expected to arrive at the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base at 17:50.
3. Move Bier Fleet Marshalling
A total of 31 vehicles including Military Police convertible guidance cars, motorcycles, police cars, and hearses.
4. Move Bier Fleet Marching Route:
Depart from Huaide Hall of Tri-Service general Hospital -> take a right at Chenggong Road Sec.2-3 -> take a left at Wende Road -> Neihu Road Sec. 1 -> Beian Road -> Ministry of National Defense (stay for 30 seconds) -> Air Force Command Headquarters -> Navy Command Headquarters -> Zhongshan N. Road -> take a left at Minzu E. Road -> take a right at Fuxing N. Road -> take a left at Minquan E. Road -> finally arriving at the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base.
5. Salute Point Planning
Officer and soldier representatives are stationed along the planned route, and citizens are welcome to pay their respect, with main points as follows:
(1)37 tribute locations are established in major traffic lines, metro stations, and camp sites, which include 19 areas consisting of Wende Station and Gangqian Station, in accordance with the move bier route. The route will pass by Ministry of National Defense, Air Force Command Headquarters, and Navy Command Headquarters, before finally arriving at the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base, in order to allow Armed Forces officers and soldiers as well as citizens to reminisce the fallen generals and soldiers.
(2)Each tribute location is equipped with guidance specialists. Citizens are welcome to bring along mini national flags when paying tribute.
(2) Spirit Awakening Saluet:
1. Time: 2020/1/14 (Tuesday) 12:30
2. Spirit Awakening Route Marching Route:
(1) Depart from the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base, and take a right at Minquan E. Road Sec. 4 -> take a left at Dunhua N. Road -> take a right at Keelung Road Sec. 3 -> take a left at Xinhai Road Sec. 3 -> finally arriving at the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office Second Funeral Parlor.
(2) Adopts “Slow Directing” for a total length of approximately 6.5 km with a driving speed of approximately 10-15km/h. The fleet will depart at 12:30 from the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base, and is expected to arrive at the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office Second Funeral Parlor at 13:10.
3. Contains the same fleet marshalling to that of the move bier.
4. Tribute Point Planning:
Officer and soldier representatives are stationed along the planned route, and citizens are welcome to pay their respect, with main points as follows:
(1) 22 tribute locations are established in 11 areas including the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base, Dunhua N. Road, and Nanjing E. Road in accordance with the spirit awakening route and the departure from the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base, in order to allow Armed Forces officers and soldiers as well as citizens to reminisce the fallen generals and soldiers.
(2) Each tribute location is equipped with guidance specialists. Citizens are welcome to bring along mini national flags when paying tribute.
(3) Traffic Notes:
The Taipei City Police Department will implement traffic light regulations at various intersections and dispatch police vehicles as guidance cars in accordance with the marching route of the move bier and the spirit awakening fleet will. The marching time will coincide with the commuting peak traffic hours, and may lead to traffic congestion in certain sections. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
3. Conclusion:
The Armed Forces diligently implement combat trainings all for the purpose of protecting the country and safeguarding the safety of the people. Regarding the unfortunate incident on the 2nd of January, the Armed Forces will mourn and be even more motivated to diligently implement various combat training missions in order to maintain combat capability and ensure national security. At the same time, the utmost loyalty and morale of Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming along with the 7 generals and soldiers will forever be the paradigm of Armed Forces juniors. At last, we invite all citizens to come and attend the tribute and joint public funeral on 13th and 14th of January to see off and say goodbye to our diligent and noble Chief of the General Staff Shen as well as 7 fallen generals and soldiers.
IV.Explanation on the Planning of the Joint Public Funeral for the Fallen Generals and Soldiers
1. Explanation: the ministry plans to solemnly host the public funeral on January 14th (Tuesday) in order to commend the brave generals and soldiers who perished in the line of duty on January 2nd for their dedication to the country, and tender the highest respect. The public funeral is open to everyone, where they can reminisce the courageous generals and soldiers who gave their lives for the country.
2. Public Funeral Planning:
(1) Public Admission Time:
2020/1/14 (Tuesday) 07:30 - 10:40 (see attachment for the detailed public funeral itinerary).
(2) Implementation Location:
Headquarters of Air Force Songshan base (No. 121, Sec. 4, Minquan E. Road, Songshan District, Taipei City)
(3) Guests:
Various government agency, Armed Force units, and national citizens.
3. Funeral procedures: retrospect, present merit order, retrospect video, consoling ceremony and flag folding procedure, public funeral ceremony, flag retrieval and donation, spirit awakening, aerial tribute overpass (implemented by UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopter and Mirage 2000), and 19 rounds of salute cannons.
4. Precautions:
(1) Citizens are allowed to enter the base with the guidance of the regulation personnel by presenting their national identification card (or other photo identification, e.g. driving license, NHI IC card), otherwise admission will be forbidden.
(2) Bicycles, pets, drones, and remote aircrafts are forbidden within the base in order to maintain military confidentiality and flight safety.
(3) Citizens should put on plain outfits when attending the public funeral, and avoid wearing colorful and peculiar attires, in order to show respect to the fallen.
(4) Precautions for Foreigners Who are Paying Respect:
1. Foreign spouses who have not yet obtained their national identification cards should be accompanied by their spouses with Republic of China citizenship when entering the camp site, and present their spouses’ national identification card along with legal identification, such as resident certificate, for inspection purposes.
2. Foreign caregivers are allowed to enter the base by presenting their passports and legal documents for inspection purposes, and with the accompaniment of their caregiving subjects.
3. Other foreigners apart from the above-mentioned category will not be allowed to enter the base with temporary application unless an application has been proposed and approved in advance. Citizens of Mainland China are forbidden to enter the base.
(5) Citizens are only allowed to attend the public funeral on the day. Please proceed to No.5 hangar to watch the live feed of other events.
(6) In order to avoid impacting events including spirit awakening and aerial tribute overpass, the public will not be allowed to enter the base after 10:40. The public funeral will last until 11:05, those who have arrived will bow and show their respect, and will exit the venue with the guidance of the receptionists after the spirit awakening ceremony.
5. Traffic Information:
(1) Bus:
1. Westward: get off at Minquan Elementary School Station (Minquan E. Road Sec. 4), then walk to the side entrance (No.2 gate) of the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base and enter.
2. Eastward: get off at Minquan Park Station, walk to Minquan E. Road Sec. 4 and Xinzhong Street Intersection, cross the road, then walk to the side entrance (No.2 gate) of the headquarters of Air Force Songshan base and enter.
3. Bus Route and Names: 214 Direct, 556, 617, 617 Sub, Minquan Metro Bus, 630, 902, 903.
(2) Drive:
Taking into account the limitation of the venue, the base has not planned for a carpark, and those who drive can park their vehicles and scooters at nearby carparks including Minquan Park and Taipei Songshan Airport, then walk to the base and enter through No.2 gate (Xinzhogn Street and Minquan E. Road intersection).
(3) Metro:
Approximately 1,000 m from exit no.3 of Songshan Airport Station (Wenhu Line).
(4) Enter the venue with the guidance of the specialist upon completing identity verification at the air transport building.