The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus accused the government yesterday of ignoring national defense after it allegedly halted plans to upgrade the Taiwan-made Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) warplanes.
The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday that the Cabinet decided to halt a plan to upgrade IDF fighters, or the Hsiang Chan Project, despite President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) approval of the project.
The report said the Cabinet’s decision was made to avoid undermining warming relations with Beijing.
DPP Legislator Kao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) told a press conference at the legislature yesterday that the DPP caucus condemned the move, adding that defense priorities had changed dramatically since Ma took office in May.
“The government not only is unable to procure F-16C/Ds from the US but has also canceled the upgrade of the IDF fighters,” Kao said.
“It is totally ignoring national defense,” he said.
He said that Ma’s dream of ultimate unification with China has had a sustained impact on military policies.
Kao said that under Ma’s administration, Taiwan would probably surrender to China if it were to launch a military attack.
The Hsiang Chan Project includes plans to enhance the IDF’s firepower, lengthening its range and providing it with the capability to attack Chinese radar control systems, runways, fuel depots and amphibious troops.
Taiwan began to develop the IDF in 1980 when the US was unwilling to provide it with F-16s. Taiwan built 130 IDFs with the help of defense firm General Dynamics, which manufactures the F-16.
In 1992, Taiwan succeeded in ordering 150 F-16A/Bs from the US and 60 Mirage 2000-5s from France.
As plans for the IDFs were more than 20 years old, the Aerospace Industry Development Corp (AIDC) launched the NT$7 billion (US$230 million) Hsiang Chan Project to upgrade the aircraft.
On March 29 last year, AIDC showed the first two upgraded IDFs to former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
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