Taiwan's military chief among eight dead in helicopter crash

A Taiwan military helicopter crashed in a mountainous area near the capital Taipei on Thursday, killing eight people on board.

The defence ministry said five people had survived the crash, while a rescue team was still combing the crash site in New Taipei City.

Chief of general staff, Air Force General Shen Yi-ming, was among the dead. 

In a statement, the military said the reasons for the crash, in the wake of a forced landing, are still being investigated. 

"We must find out the reason for the incident," President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters in the northeastern county of Yilan. "Most importantly, (we) must ensure the stability of our military and national defence."