Navy Admiral Mei Chia-shu appointed as chief of the general staff

Navy Admiral Mei Chia-shu appointed as chief of the general staff

2023-04-19

President Tsai Ing-wen has approved a military reshuffle that takes effect May 1. Most notably, Navy Commander Mei Chia-shu will take over as chief of the general staff, filling a post left vacant by the retirement of Chen Pao-yu. Mei boasts impressive credentials and is known for his finesse in handling delicate situations. Lawmakers and military experts have widely praised the appointment.

President Tsai Ing-wen has approved a reshuffle of top military officials. Current Chief of the General Staff Chen Pao-yu is set to retire later this month. His post will be assumed by Navy Admiral Mei Chia-shu.

Mei Chia-shu (April 2020)
Then-Navy deputy commander
On behalf of the Navy, I would like to offer an apology to the general public.

Bowing in apology, Mei was the public face of the military in 2020, after COVID broke out on the Panshih supply ship. Mei also demonstrated his crisis management skills during the 2017 Ching Fu Shipbuilding scandal and the Hsiung Feng III missile mishap of 2016. His experience and training are strong, but even so, the promotion came earlier than expected based on his military rank.

Chen Yu-chen
KMT lawmaker
This appointment highlights the fact that, in the event of instability in the Taiwan Strait, our priority is to secure maritime dominance.

Hsu Chih-chieh
DPP lawmaker
I think Tsai Ing-wen’s choice to opt for younger staff with international experience is good.

Tang tu-sheng
Retired Navy captain
I’ve only heard positive things about him, about his human touch. He’s not overly stern.

The post of Navy commander will be taken over by Vice Chief of General Staff Tang Hua. From the Army, Commander Hsu Yen-pu will become vice minister of defense and be put in charge of armaments. Vice Commander Chung Shu-ming will be promoted to commander. All the appointments will take effect on May 1.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
All of the generals have international experience, particularly with the U.S. They are younger, they have international experience, and they can integrate Navy, Army and Air Force resources to counter China’s threat.

With China’s aggression mounting, Tsai has moved to reorganize the military in her last year in office, to strengthen and reform Taiwan’s Armed Forces. The changes are aimed at preparing Taiwan’s military for an ever-changing international environment.With China’s aggression mounting, Tsai has moved to reorganize the military in her last year in office, to strengthen and reform Taiwan’s Armed Forces. The changes are aimed at preparing Taiwan’s military for an ever-changing international environment.

梅家樹接參謀總長危機處理專家被稱"海軍阿信"

2023-04-19

蔡英文總統昨晚核定新一波軍方高階人事布局，由於參謀總長陳寶餘4月底屆退，職缺將由海軍司令梅家樹調任、接掌參謀本部。梅家樹多次在海軍爭議事件中，以柔軟身段、親上第一線扮演拆彈角色，被稱為「海軍阿信」，學經歷也相當完整，因此不論是立委、或軍方輿論，都相當看好。

蔡總統核定新一波軍方高階人事異動，由於參謀總長陳寶餘4月底屆齡卸任，將由現任海軍司令梅家樹調任。

[[時任海軍副司令梅家樹(2020.04)]]
“我代表海軍，要向我們的社會大眾，致上我們海軍的一個歉意”

曾在磐石艦爆發染疫風波時，親上火線，代表軍方鞠躬道歉。梅家樹也在2017年慶富獵雷艦弊案、與2016年雄三誤射事件時，展現危機處理能力。雖然學經歷完整，但在軍中論資排輩，升官比預期早。

[[立委(國) 陳玉珍]]
“(凸顯)萬一台海局勢不穩的時候，我們首先要掌握的應該是"制海權"”

[[立委(民) 許智傑]]
“蔡總統選擇就是年輕化，有國際經驗的將官，我覺得相當的好”

[[海軍退役上校楊于勝]]
“(對梅家樹)聽到的都是蠻正面的(評價)，他的待人接物，不是這麼一個嚴肅的長官”

而海軍司令一職，將由也是海軍出身的副參謀總長唐華接下。陸軍方面也有變動，陸軍司令徐衍璞接任國防部軍備副部長，而新任司令、則由副司令鍾樹明調任。上述所有人事於5月1日生效。

[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“所有的將領，都有跟國際，特別是跟美國對接的經驗，(特色是)年輕化，國際化，以及整合海空軍因應中國的威脅”

因應中國加大武嚇威脅，蔡總統在任期最後一年，出手整理軍方隊伍，強化海空軍改革，也確保國軍的建軍備戰，適應國際戰略環境的變化。

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President Tsai Ing-wen poses for a photo with 117 newly minted investigators. The Investigation Bureau plays a key role in countering Chinese cognitive warfare and talent poaching. On Wednesday, Tsai expressed high hopes for this fresh batch of graduates.

Tsai Ing-wen
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I hope you will all adhere to the principles of democracy and rule of law to protect the rights and interests of the general public. I also hope you will stay up to date with the times and continually improve your professional skills. Lastly, I hope you can be disciplined and maintain administrative neutrality.

The valedictorian of this 59th cohort of investigators is Yang Chih-jen, a graduate from National Taiwan University’s Department of Chemistry. He previously worked as a Mandarin Chinese teacher in Vietnam and is fluent in Italian.

Yang Chih-jen
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I was looking for a job where I would interact with people a lot, and that would allow me to use my foreign language skills. As I was looking online, I found that the work at the Investigation Bureau was ideal for me.

This year’s class includes Hung Chieh-lin, a former flight attendant and graduate of Fu Jen Catholic University’s Department of Japanese Language and Culture. Hung’s father and sister are also investigators. Hung is a skilled swimmer, and her physical fitness test broke a record set previously set by her sister.

Hung Chieh-lin
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Flight attendants play a very important role in ensuring flight safety. Working for the Investigation Bureau means we have to ensure our nation’s safety. It’s a very challenging job that includes investigating major crime cases. I think I can get a sense of accomplishment from it.

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This is the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi’s Taibao City. It’s set to become the center of drone development in Taiwan.

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The government has formed the national drone team as part of its strategy to strengthen Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities. It’s focused on domestic as well as international markets.

Chiang Chen-wei
Chiayi County Economic Development Dept.
Many manufacturers from places including the U.S., the Czech Republic, Turkey, Japan and Dubai, came here to visit and work with us. For example, a delegation from the Czech parliament came here recently, and 13 people from the aerospace delegation came too, looking for future collaboration options.

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AUO expects demand for TV panels to recover quarter by quarter. AUO also addressed reports that it planned to adjust capacity for some production lines.

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