TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) inspected elite counterterrorism units on Friday (June 13) during a high-profile visit to the national anti-terrorism training center located in Xinwu District (新屋區), a rural area of Taoyuan City northwest of the capital. Against a backdrop of regional tensions, the president emphasized the increasingly vital role specialized police forces play in Taiwan's comprehensive societal defense strategy, a concept that has gained prominence as the self-governing island faces complex security challenges.
During the presidential visit, Taiwan's specialized police units demonstrated a series of sophisticated tactical operations designed to counter potential terrorist threats. The exercises included meticulously executed indoor assault scenarios and complex hostage rescue simulations conducted in realistic train and subway environments, allowing the forces to display their advanced weaponry and specialized equipment. President Lai, visibly impressed by the demonstrations, underscored the training facility's crucial role in strengthening Taiwan's counterterrorism readiness and explicitly committed to providing comprehensive government resources and political backing for the center's continued expansion and technological advancement.
Taiwan's National Police Agency (警政署), the island's primary law enforcement authority, unveiled ambitious infrastructure plans during the presidential visit, announcing a NT$740 million (approximately US$25.1 million) investment for expanding the training complex. The project includes constructing a state-of-the-art indoor shooting range and a multi-purpose tactical skills facility, with groundbreaking scheduled for early 2026 and completion projected by late 2027. In his address to the assembled officers, President Lai articulated a philosophy of preventive security, emphasizing that while Taiwan conducts such exercises without hoping for actual terrorist incidents, thorough preparation serves the dual purpose of reassuring the public and enhancing the government's crisis response capabilities.
In concluding his visit to the high-security facility, President Lai called for greater coordination across Taiwan's government agencies to strengthen what he termed "societal defense resilience" — a comprehensive security concept encompassing responses to both international threats and natural disasters. The president specifically mentioned the need for preparedness against climate-related emergencies alongside traditional security concerns, reflecting Taiwan's vulnerability to typhoons and earthquakes. Lai expressed his expectations for the timely completion of the shooting range expansion project, framing the investment as tangible evidence of his administration's unwavering commitment to national security in an era of increasing uncertainty across the Taiwan Strait. ◼