Tsao, at the time serving at the Kinmen Defense Command, was tasked with planning for a possible Chinese attack on Kinmen, Matsu, Tatan, or Erhtan, and with leading exercises in preparation for such an attack in order to shore up Taiwan's front lines.
當時任職金防部的曹明生，專責擬定金、馬、大膽、二膽等離島的作戰計畫，並指揮官兵實戰演練，以鞏固台海國防最前線。