The military began the second day of the joint military exercises on March 21. Meanwhile, the soldier surnamed Chen who was stationed on Kinmen's Erdan Island, previously went missing and is currently in China. Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng said legal personnel are determining whether the soldier should be identified as a deserter.
Three Black Hawk helicopters approached. They circled in the air and conducted low-altitude reconnaissance. After confirming that the ground was safe, they landed at a field at Taoyuan's Longgang. After the soldiers got off the helicopter, they raced against time to camouflage the Black Hawk. The national military launched joint combat drills across Taiwan this week. The 601 Brigade of the Army Aviation Special Warfare Command conducted a Black Hawk helicopter evacuation drill on the 21st. Some parents took their children to watch military helicopters take off and land at close range.
Citizen: “It's really cool to watch with kids. We feel so excited.”
Blue Team Captain, Army 601 Brigade Task Force: “In order to ensure the safety of the venue, we conducted a low-altitude reconnaissance first. After confirming the landing zone is safe, our helicopters will then land in sequence.”
The situation remains deadlocked between both sides of the strait. The military will launch beach counterattacks in Yilan's Toucheng and Taoyuan's Zhuwei, which are designated as where the PLA forces will land. However, some scholars believe that the 14 Taiwanese beaches designated as where PLA forces may land are no longer in line with the current battlefield situation and need to be reassessed.
Chiu Kuo-cheng, Minister of National Defense: “From beaches, territorial waters, land, and even airspace. Doing these joint drills allows us to review these things. I don't think it's necessary to reassess this land beach list. Our experience is the result of years of hard work and accumulated year after year.”
An arrest has been issued for the Kinmen soldier surnamed Chen. Prosecutors have filed a repatriation request with China. Chiu said that they investigated desertion from many aspects, such as base management, life problems, relationship, and family problems. Investigators already have the answer.
Chiu Kuo-cheng, Minister of National Defense: “What is the reason I can't reveal the details? Because then it would become a one-sided word and seem like the military is pushing the blame. We are not pushing away responsibility. We hope the soldier can explain himself.”
Did the soldier defect to China? Chiu said this will be determined by prosecutors. The Ministry of National Defense will not accompany the family members going to China to visit the soldier. It will deal with the case fairly.
3架黑鷹直升機迎面而來，先是在空中盤旋進行低空偵查，確認地面安全無虞，依序在桃園龍岡大操場實施降落。官兵下機後跟時間賽跑，要幫黑鷹實施偽裝強化保存效能，國軍本週在全台各地展開聯合作戰演練，陸軍航空特戰指揮部601旅21日上午進行黑鷹直升機疏散演練，有家長特別帶小朋友近距離直擊軍機起降。
民眾指出：「帶小孩來看真的很酷，然後覺得好興奮。」
陸軍601旅任務隊藍隊長提及：「場地的話為了確保安全，所以我們還是實施先一個低空偵查，確定說我們場地都是安全無虞之後，我們飛機再依序來實施落地。」
兩岸維持對峙僵局，國軍接下來還會分別在宜蘭頭城、桃園竹圍，被列管是共軍登陸的紅色沙灘，展開海灘反擊作戰。不過有學者認為，全台14處的紅色沙灘已不符現今的戰場形勢，需要重新盤點。
國防部長邱國正表示：「從海灘、領海、陸地，甚至於領空，做這些聯合操演也就在檢討這些事情，我覺得沒有什麼必要去講動不動重新，以前都是花很多功夫逐年累下來的。」
至於金門陳姓上兵被通緝，金檢向中國提出遣返請求。邱國正表示，上兵離營的原因從內部管理、生活問題、感情、家庭問題多方面了解，目前已有答案。
國防部長邱國正說道：「但我不能對外講的原因在哪裡，變成一個片面之詞，好像國軍在推託在推責，我們沒有推責，所以我們最期望，不管用任何方法由他來講。」
是否認定陳姓上兵離營為投共？邱國正表示，由法務人員鑑定，而家屬將赴中探視，國防部不會陪同也不會託話，公平處理問題。