The fencer in the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF)

Accidents happen all the time in Taiwan's armed forces, all the time. But never have I ever thought that such misfortune could happen to a fencer friend I used to fence with.

I was speechless when I saw his picture on the front page of the evening newspaper in a 7-11, reporting on the disappearance of a twin seater Taiwanese-made Indigenous Defense Fighter of which he was the pilot. The aircraft disappeared at large of Penghu Islands on a duty about dropping bomb.

I felt sad... extremely sad, le cœur gros et la gorge serrée, but tearless.

Few days later, the air force officially announced his death. Short obituaries of him and his co-pilot could be read on online news, which allowed me to know him a little more.

Ever since I became a journalist reporting mainly on Taiwan's military issues, I never stopped blaming such accidents in the armed forces that are mainly due to low readiness and low spirit and inflexible regulations. Few efforts and microscopic improvements have been done since... 

"No comments" that's the only thing military spokesmen say to cover the ugliness behind everything they feel virgin-shy to let know, although they were taught to be courageous and fearless when fighting the enemy.

I think that I will never see him again during fencing competitions. He fenced well.