Academics and social activists spoke out yesterday at a forum held by the Democracy Advancement Alliance (DAA) in Taipei, saying that the Cabinet's plan to spend NT$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) on arms from the US is a dangerous step towards a debilitating arms race with China.
The special budget of NT$610.8 billion (US$18.25 billion) was approved by the Cabinet earlier this month for the purchase of arms from the US.
The bill, due for review in the legislature, says that the money will be spent over 15 years.
Although some forum members said that the government's actions were an over-reaction to a Chinese "military bluff," others emphasized that regardless of the strength of the threat, Taiwan could not hope to win any arms race with China.
Panelists drew parallels to the 1980s arms race between US and the former Soviet Union, saying that Taiwan had neither the funds nor ability to sustain a protracted arsenal competition with China.
"Historical example shows us that arms races are never ending," said Hsu Cho-yun (
During the cold-war, then US President Ronald Reagan embarked on an arms race with the Soviet Union, driving the Soviet economy to ruin.
Panelists questioned how much spending would be enough in Taiwan's case.
"Presently, the government is reacting to some 600 missiles pointed in our direction from Fujian Province with an arms spending package of NT$610 billion," said Yang Kai-huang (楊開煌), president of the Mainland China Studies Association and a professor at National Dong Hwa University.
"How much should we spend, then, on military arms if they point further missiles at us from Nanking? How much if they point all of their missiles at us?"
The group criticized President Chen Shui-bian (
"Is this huge amount of money being spent for the protection of Taiwan, or is it for the protection of Taiwan-American relations?" panelists asked.
This whole situation is a joke -- the US must think that we are suckers," said former independent legislator and Taipei National University of the Arts professor Chu Hui-liang (
The arms spending package may also be against the public will.
"I'm worried about the progress of democracy in Taiwan," Chu said. "The public already made its will clear during the March 20th referendum. The Chen administration is overstepping its boundaries with the arms budget that it has decided on without first engaging in any public discussion," he said, referring to the failure of the referendum on an anti-missile system purchase this March.
Panelists also blasted the government for earmarking so much of the nation's resources for arms purchases when there were many other domestic issues that needed financing, such as education and environmental reform.
The DAA and social activists said that they would battle the arms purchase by increasing public awareness and discussion about the budget.
They aim to ask legislators to clarify their stance on the budget and a possible referendum on the topic to the people and called on opposition parties to stand with the people on this matter.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist