The movie Enemy at the Gates describes a famous campaign in 1942 -- the Battle of Stalingrad.
Vasili Zaitsev, a legendary Russian sniper, was a shepherd and hunted with his grandfather during his childhood. Relying on his skillful marksmanship, he shot lots of German soldiers accurately and calmly.
The defense of Taiwan can't depend on how many "Vasili" it has, but how many opportunities it grasps. Reports -- no matter from the US or the Ministry of National Defense -- all reveal the imbalance in military power between China and Taiwan. The only way to solve this problem is to enhance national defense actively. Therefore, it's necessary for us to grasp the chance provided by the US government to upgrade our weapons to fill the gap.
What can the three military purchases bring us?
First of all, they balance the military differences between China and Taiwan.
Secondly, they have a deterrent effect. China won't launch a quick attack if the military power is almost equal.
Finally, as long as the purchases go well, Taiwan's national defense will be better and this is really a great inspiration to its army. After all, excellent weapons and well-trained troops bring out the best in each other.
Now, the enemy is at the gates! However, as long as Taiwan can seize the chance and prepare well, even though there aren't any Vasilis here, we can still pass through the crisis on our own!
Huang Wei-lun
Taipei
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