President Reaffirms Arms Procurement Plan

Taiwan Government News, TAIPEI: President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed Wednesday that the government has not changed its policy toward the long-stalled arms procurement package from the United States nor has it any intention of giving up any of the three items covered in the package. 
 
Chen pointed out that all three items were requested by Taiwan before he assumed the presidency in 2000, with the request for submarines issued by the former Kuomintang (KMT) government in 1994, for submarine-hunting aircraft in 1997 and for Patriot PAC-III anti-missile batteries in 1998. 
 
Chen said national security is in the common interests of both the ruling and opposition parties and that the policy should not be affected by a transition of power. He said Taiwan maintains friendly and close relations with the United States and that the two countries are “the best” democratic allies and security partners. 
 
“It is the greatest responsibility of the government and people of Taiwan to strengthen and enhance the country's ability to defend itself to prevent the cross-Taiwan Strait military balance from tilting in favor of China, which will jeopardize peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said. 
 
“We are resolved, determined and fully prepared to achieve the goal of increasing the country's defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product by 2008,” he added. 
 
The president made the remarks during a meeting with Robert R. Simmons, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who is visiting Taiwan. 
 
The opposition “pan-blue alliance” of the KMT and People First Party, which controls a slim majority in the legislature, has blocked the package for nearly two years, because of disagreement with the Cabinet over the budgeting method and the cost of the procurement. 
 
The “pan-blue alliance” has also argued that the Patriot PAC-III anti-missile batteries, which they claim failed to win the support of the people in a 2004 referendum, should not be discussed at all within three years of the referendum being held. 
 
A referendum held alongside the presidential election on March 20, 2004 on whether to purchase more anti-missile armaments was declared invalid because less than half of the eligible voters took part in the poll. According to the country's referendum law, no referendum can be held on the same issue within three years of it being voted on. 
 
In what was the latest compromise to the opposition, Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said Tuesday that his ministry is prepared to finance the three items from its regular annual budget, instead of with a special budget to which the opposition objects. 
 
The ministry also hopes to increase the country's defense spending to 2.85 percent of the GDP by 2007 and further to 3 percent of GDP by 2008, according to Lee. He said the supplementary budget to be put forth by the ministry for this year will only include the submarines and aircraft.