National Defense: Command Structure

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Article 36 of the ROC Constitution states that the president of the republic "shall have supreme command of the land, sea, and air forces of the whole country." The president instructs the minister of national defense to order the chief of the general staff to command and execute the president's instructions.

Within the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is the General Staff Headquarters (GSH). The GSH is headed by the chief of the general staff, who is in charge of military affairs. In the military command system, he acts as the chief of staff to the president for operational matters, while in the administrative system, he serves as chief of staff to the minister of national defense.

Ministry of National Defense (MND)

The MND is responsible for formulating military strategy, setting military personnel policies, formulating draft and mobilization plans, delineating supply distribution policies, arranging the research and development of military technology, compiling national defense budget, setting military regulations, conducting court martial proceedings, and administering military law. The ministry consists of such administrative units as Departments of Strategic Planning, Manpower, Resource, Legal Service, Judge Advocate, Reserve Affairs; Offices of the Minister, Military History and Translation, Integration and Evaluation, General Inspector, Personnel, Accounting; Appeal Committees; Council for Protection of Rights for Servicemen. MND also consists of Bureaus of General Political Warfare, Comptroller, Medical; Headquarters of the Army, Navy, Air Force; Combined Logistics Command; Reserve Command; Military Police Command; and other subordinate agencies such as military academies, military courts, prosecutorial bureaus, and jails.

General Staff Headquarters, MND

The Organizational Act of the General Staff Headquarters (GSH), MND, makes the GSH responsible for planning and supervision of joint war activities, political warfare, personnel, military intelligence, operations, education and training, logistics, organization and equipment calibration, communications, and medical services. The GSH includes the offices of Joint War Training and Standard Development, the Deputy Chiefs of the General Staff for Personnel, Intelligence, Operations and Planning, Logistics, Communications and Electronics; the Military Medical Bureau?; and the Military Affairs Bureau.

General Headquarters of Each Service

The general headquarters of the three services of the ROC Armed Forces are under the jurisdiction of the MND. They are responsible for the basic and specialized training of subordinate military units, as well as the maintenance and preparedness of equipment.

Army General Headquarters

The Army Headquarters is responsible for developing and maintaining the Army's combat capabilities, as well as commanding and supervising all subordinate units and personnel. Under its command are the Army Logistics Command, Army Commands, the Airborne and Special Operations Command, Air Defense Missile Command, Defense Command, and subordinate units.

Navy General Headquarters

The Navy Headquarters is in charge of developing and maintaining the Navy's combat readiness, as well as commanding and supervising all of its subordinate fleets and ground units. Under its command are the Naval Fleet Command, the Marine Corps Headquarters, the Navy Logistics Command, the Educational Training and Doctrine Development Command, the Bureau of Maritime Survey, and subordinate units.

Air Force General Headquarters

The Air Force Headquarters is responsible for the Air Force's combat capabilities and commands and supervises all subordinate troops and units. Its units include the Air Force Operations Command, the Air Force Logistics Command, the Air Defense Artillery Command, and the Education, Training and Doctrine Development Command.

Combined Services Force Headquarters

The Combined Services Force Headquarters is responsible for acquiring ordnance, military maps, and communication equipment for the ROC Armed Forces. It also provides support and services commonly needed by all of the branches of the Armed Forces, such as surveying, engineering, rear echelon administration, purchasing and procurement, and armament appraisal and testing.

Reserve Command

The Reserve Command is responsible for civil defense and mobilization preparedness. Its personnel, selected from cadres of regular forces or reserves, are organized into reserve brigades, reserve regiments, and reserve battalions subordinate to each Reserve Division Command and County/City Reserve Command in peacetime. They will be expanded and included in the command and control of the combat system in wartime.

Military Police Command

Military Police guard military and certain governmental installations, enforce military law, maintain military discipline, support combat troops, and serve as supplementary police when necessary to maintain public security. The Military Police have four sub-command centers and one training center.