Taiwanese cabinet proposes massive budget to buy advanced U-S weapons

Producer: Melanie Yip
First broadcast: 3 June 04, Radio Singapore International

In an effort to counter China's threats of war, the Taiwanese cabinet will ask for a US$18 billion arms budget to purchase arms from the United States.

But the massive arms budget proposal has been met with strong opposition.

Senior opposition officials argued that the arms budget proposal, to be spent over 15 years, does not fit into Taiwan's defense needs.

Are opposition lawmakers justified in their claims that the proposed arms budget was not necessary?

Melanie Yip put the question to David Zweig (DZ), Professor of Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

DZ: It seems that Taiwan has not been spending enough on military defense over the last number of years and it becomes necessary to defend themselves with the kinds of defense systems they're buying, anti-submarines, patriot missiles. These are the weapons, and weapons systems they need if they were to be attacked by the mainland.

The arms budget was first suggested by Taiwan's Defense Ministry in 2003,and is now being proposed for parliament approval despite China's fiery criticisms of President Chen Shui-Bien, who is into his second term in office. What are your views on this?

DZ: There have been many inter-force rivalry over the nature of the weapons systems Taiwan is purchasing. But overall, the Americans have been pushing the Taiwanese to buy these systems and put forward their own defense. So it seems that now is the time to do it.

In March this year, President Chen had not been able to seek a referendum for building greater Taiwan defenses against China. Shouldn't that serve as a warning to not further antagonize China?

DZ: Taiwan is in a difficult position. If they do not buy any weapons systems, then the question is does that encourage China to consider a pre-emptive military attack? Part of the problem in this, regarding the issue of the period it took Taiwan to consider buying weapons. The United States, China and Taiwan have ben talking about buying weapons for a long time, and the Americans are concerned that the Taiwanese are not taking the military threats from the mainland seriously. And the Taiwanese are too confident that the Americans will be there to defend them, in the event of any confrontation. So the Taiwanese need to beef up their defense systems, at least from the American perspective, as a way to deter China.

Beijing opposes any arms sales to Taiwan as it views them as an encouragement for President Chen to declare independence from the mainland. And yet, the United States, whom Taiwan is acquiring advanced weapons from, has warned the island is not spending enough on defense against China. What are the implications of the US' arms transactions to Taiwan?

DZ: The Americans are doing this as a two handed strategy. On the one hand, they are pressing Taiwan to increase its military capabilities. On the other hand, they are trying their best not to let Taiwan take this as a signal that they can declare independence. The United States has openly said that they would not want to see any changes in the status quo. President Bush reiterated that during his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last year. The Americans have been quite adamant, opposing independence. So they do not see the weapons systems as encouraging Taiwan to declare independence. They might be concerned that Taiwan might do that and perceive it that way. The Americans are sending a message that this is not what they're doing.