TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) visited National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on Friday (March 29) to inspect Taiwan’s national defense weaponry.

According to a press release from the Office of the President, Lai was accompanied by Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), and other high-ranking government officials, CNA reported.

Lai said the pursuit of national defense autonomy has been a government priority. “In the past few years, the NCSIST has shouldered the task of national defense autonomy and research, and has lived up to expectations and performed well,” he said.

Lai added that in terms of domestically produced aircraft, 27 new advanced trainer aircraft AIDC T-5 “Brave Eagle” had been produced and delivered by the end of last year. As for domestically produced ships, Lai said lightweight patrol and rescue ships are being developed according to plan.

Lai emphasized that Taiwan occupies an important position in the international high-tech system. 

“Facing increasingly complex regional and national security situations, I hope that the Ministry of National Defense and the NCSIST will continue to cooperate with academia and industry and utilize mature technologies in future military applications,” he said.

Founded in 1969, the NCSIST is Taiwan’s state-owned defense contractor and specializes in the development and manufacture of domestic weapon systems.