Taiwan opens first medical training centre for treating combat injuries as cross-strait tensions run high
- Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen inaugurates facility aimed at improving island’s ability to handle battlefield trauma in event of conflict with mainland
- It has AI and virtual reality systems to simulate tactical combat casualty care under wartime conditions and teach staff to cope with pressure
“The inauguration of the tactical combat casualty care facility represents the overall upgrading of the expertise and training in the National Defence Medical Centre’s casualty care service,” Tsai said during a ceremony in Taipei on Monday.
She said the centre would be responsible for cultivating medical officers and military emergency responders by strengthening their abilities to deal with combat casualties, which would increase Taiwanese soldiers’ chances of survival in a potential war.
Tsai also said the military should work with the civilian sector to strengthen trauma care services, saying the two sides could “effectively coordinate with each other for needed resources, thereby maximising our casualty care capacity”.
Beijing views Taiwan as its territory to be taken under control, by force if necessary. It has intensified its military operations around the island in response to what it perceives as increased attempts by Taipei to pursue independence and work with Washington to counter the mainland.