Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (
"The most serious Chinese military threat toward Taiwan is a large-scale missile attack and a submarine blockade. This is considered to be the cheapest and most effective way to take over Taiwan," Lee said yesterday when he met with reporters.
"In order to survive a large-scale missile attack and a submarine blockade, Taiwan should swiftly approve the special arms budget," Lee added.
PHOTO: CHEN CHIEH-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
The original NT$480 billion (US$15 billion) special arms procurement bill was designed to purchase three major weapons systems from the US -- eight diesel-electric submarines, 12 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and three PAC-3 Patriot anti-missile batteries.
The ministry has proposed transfering NT$133 billion for three batteries of PAC-3 missiles to regular defense budget, and the special arms bill would be reduced to NT$340 billion.
"It was a painful decision to remove the PAC-3 missiles and add them to the regular defense budget, and the move would affect the ministry's other programs," said Lee.
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