Navy Vice Commander in Chief Vice Admiral Kao Yang (
Kao is tasked with the mission of solving major disagreements between the two sides regarding the Kidd-class destroyers.
The navy does not expect Kao to be able to get everything it wants in the newest round of negotiations with the US on the destroyers.
It has, therefore, prepared for the worst, authorizing Kao to turn the tables on the US if necessary.
The preparations indicate that the navy might consider not buying the four Kidd-class destroyers under the worst conditions.
Assigned with such an important mission, Kao is to stay in the US for at least 10 days so as to have ample time for talks. He is scheduled to return to Taiwan before the next session of the legislature begins on Sept. 24.
During the trip, Kao will also discuss with the US military the eight diesel-powered submarines that the administration of US President George W. Bush has promised to sell to Taiwan.
So far, the navy has reached common ground with its US counterpart on the type of diesel-powered submarine to be selected for the sale.
But the two sides have yet to decide where the eight submarines are to be built and other relevant details.
The type of submarine that the US is to help Taiwan acquire is Germany's Type 214, sources said.
Although Germany has declared more than once that it will not issue an export license for any weapons system to be sold to Taiwan, a naval official said in private that the sale will not be a problem.
"Taiwan has a long history of buying foreign-made weapons systems without getting export licenses from the original manufacturing countries. The problem is not with buying, but with post-sales maintenance and repair," the official said.
"We have, for instance, a Germany-made torpedo for use on the only two modern diesel-powered submarines in service. The weapon was not sold directly to Taiwan from Germany. It was sold to Taiwan via a front company of the German torpedo manufacturer in Indonesia," he said.
"China will surely object to Germany's sale of the Type 214 submarine to Taiwan. How we are going to get the Type 214 has yet to be arranged," he added.
As to the four Kidd-class destroyers, the navy is eager to solve disagreements with the US before the opening of the next legislative session.
It hopes the US will make more concessions so that it can get full support from the legislature for the deal.
The proposed defense budget for next year, to be examined and approved in the next session of the legislature, includes the first-year payments for the four Kidd-class destroyers.
According to new arms purchase rules, any weaponry procurement cannot go ahead without the legislature's endorsement.
For the moment, the navy is still uncertain as to whether some lawmakers who have openly voiced opposition to the Kidd deal will change their minds on the matter.
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