Taiwan's defense minister toured southern military bases ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a routine morale visit that underlines how much emphasis Taipei is putting on combat readiness.

• Defense Minister Wellington Koo visited the Army's airborne training center, air defense units, and the Air Force's 6th Wing in southern Taiwan.
• He received mission briefings, watched training first-hand, and handed out unit bonuses ahead of the holiday.
• His message: solid training is the foundation of fighting power, with safety first, better combat skills, and stronger leadership from officers.
• He also told commanders to improve living conditions and recruit better people, a nod to Taiwan's persistent manpower problem.

Outlook: Expect more of these readiness-focused visits as Taiwan keeps pushing recruitment and training while pressure from China stays high.