Vice Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min (陳肇敏) attended a defense industry conference held in the US earlier this month, exchanging views with US State and Defense Department officials in charge of Taiwan affairs. Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) took part in a similar conference last March for the first time, conducting strategic dialogue with US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfo-witz, marking a milestone in defense cooperation between the two countries.
The Bush administration is concerned about Taiwan's security and has reiterated its resolve to support the country's popularly elected government. President George W. Bush has stated that the US will do whatever it takes to help this country defend itself against China's military threats.
But during the past six months, officials at the US National Security Council, Department of State and Department of Defense have time and again reminded their Taiwanese guests that Taipei must do its utmost to protect itself, rather than overly relying on US intervention, and that solutions to most of the problems must depend on Taiwan itself.
US officials have also complained that, while China is rapidly stepping up its military threats, Taipei seems to lack a sense of urgency, with its defense budgets declining annually and defense and military reforms moving slowly. They have commented that the country is failing to do its best to beef up its capacity for self-defense.
The difficult situation facing this nation in the area of defense is a result of China's militaristic arms build-up and efforts to isolate it in the international community. But US officials have bluntly said that the main problems actually lie in this country's conservative, passive military thinking, its bureaucratic system and its limited economic resources.
China has continued to procure weapons and military technology from the countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Russia, to speed up its military modernization. This has greatly influenced the People's Liberation Army's capability to use force and created an imbalance of military power between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, threatening this nation's security.
The annual report on China's military power issued by the US Department of Defense in July last year pinpointed the driving force behind Beijing's military modernization -- the need to prepare for future military conflicts in the Strait. In the event that China takes military action against Taiwan, it will launch preemptive surprise attacks to effectively deter the US from intervening and aiding this country.
Since Taiwan withdrew from the UN, Beijing has intensified its efforts to contain and isolate Taipei in the international community. In every possible way, it hinders Taipei from establishing formal diplomatic relations with other countries, limits its arms procurement efforts and obstructs its exchanges of military technology and ideas with other nations, directly hampering its military modernization.
US officials have frankly stated that a big challenge facing Taiwan is the conservative attitude of its military. They said conservative forces are used to analyzing cross-strait affairs from a Chinese point of view, reflecting the mistaken belief that tangible power is the factor dominating cross-strait relations. Since Tai-wan is unable to engage in endless military competition with China, some have even suggested that expressing "goodwill" to Beijing is the best strategy for maintaining peace and stability in the Strait.
According to US officials, new thinking must be instilled into the nation's defense policy makers. A full understanding and analysis of China's situation is required. The out-dated assumption that Beijing will launch large-scale land attacks should be dropped in favor of anti-missile and air and naval defense training. Offensive weapons should also be developed.
Another difficulty confronting the military is how to promote closer cooperation with the civilian government. In a democracy, it is natural that the military is controlled by the government and supervised by the legislature. Some conservative members of this country's military have misgivings and misconceptions about a civilian-led defense force. They dare not express overt opposi-tion, but passively pretend to comply. US officials say military departments must foster interaction and mutual understanding with other government agencies, leading to thorough cooperation between the military and civilians in government.
The national defense budget has decreased annually in recent years, unlike China's which has increased annually. Since the DPP took office, China has accelerated its military modernization, posing a greater threat to this country. But the opposition parties boycott proposals designed to counter this and slash the defense budget.
A lawmaker with a military background frowned strongly upon the procurement of Kidd-class destroyers, worrying that it might "sabotage the strategy of `peace and stability' already in place for 30 years."
US officials are also unhappy with the leaking of secrets concerning military cooperation with Taipei, arguing that this has destroyed mutual trust and made it more difficult for the two nations to work together in the future.
To overcome the above challenges, the US has suggested that Taipei's priority is to tone up the morale of both the military and the public. It is unlikely that China will undertake a "scorched-earth war" against this country. Instead, it aims to launch an information-technology war, attacking key military facilities with missiles or blocking the major transportation routes linking the nation with the outside world.
China's strategy also focuses on depriving the Taiwanese people of their will to fight, forcing this country to surrender and even using pro-China media to trumpet unification. How to raise morale is a matter of great urgency if this nation is to counter China's threats.
In the face of the PLA's speedy modernization and high-tech fighting capabilities, US officials have suggested that the military develop a new strategic thinking, abandon unrealistic and out-dated ideas and map out effective self-defense plans. The defense policy-making process should be more transparent and open to legislative review and debate and the outside world. By doing so the government will earn the approval and support of its public.
US officials have emphasized that this country must accelerate defense reform and enforce the two laws regarding national defense. In the process of formulating defense policies, civilian participation should be accepted and opinions from all corners of society should be adopted.
It is to be hoped that the Ministry of National Defense will now engage in some soul-searching and not ignore well-intentioned criticism and advice because national security and the lives of 23 million Taiwanese depend on it.
Parris Chang is a DPP legislator.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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