Analysts have criticized Taiwan's military leadership for failing to support the government's commitment to modernize the country's armed forces.
Despite budgetary constraints, the military will proceed with large-scale purchases of weapons and other equipment over the coming years to achieve its objectives.
Military leaders at various levels have shown a resistance to the adoption of new ideas, preferring to follow old modes of thought passed down from their predecessors, according to analysts.
Such a mentality is reflected in the choice of weapons and equipment to achieve the so-called modernization of the armed forces, analysts said.
With the army's purchase of new utility helicopters to replace its aging fleet of UH-1Hs, for instance, its leadership is more interested in procuring UH-60s from US manufacturer Sikorsky than the Eurocopter NH-90. This, analysts said, is because Taiwan military leaders are more familiar with US weapons systems, and the UH-60 has proven combat experience.
However, the two helicopters are qualitatively different. According to analysts, the NH-90 has the capability to transport between 14 and 20 troops, whereas the UH-60 can only carry 11.
The army plans to buy around 100 new utility helicopters to replace the UH-1Hs, which have been in use in Taiwan for several decades.
The aging UH-1Hs were used extensively in the rescue and search procedures that followed the 921 earthquake last year -- an operation the army was proud of and which was a successful PR exercise.
Another large-scale military purchase demonstrating the current mentality of the military leadership is the plan to buy new tactical and general-purpose trucks to replace existing ones of similar service age to the UH-1Hs.
The Combined Services Force (CSF), which is responsible for handling the truck purchase, recently canceled a scheduled open bid for the deal and revised some of the qualifications for the bidders.
Sources close to decision-makers in the matter said although open bidding will be held, the military leadership already seems to have a decision in mind.
The US-based FMC Corp is the favored choice among the leadership because the armed forces used US-built trucks in the past, sources said.
It is not that the US-made products are inferior, but that Taiwan's military needs to build its own equipment production capabilities in addition to indigenous weapons development that it has to some extent established, military analysts said.
Around ten years ago, the military developed on its own a type of heavyweight truck. However production was called off after a limited number were made.
The domestically built truck was generally considered inferior and few currently remain in service.
Although that particular project was not the success it was intended to be, the truck debacle should not hinder future efforts in locally developed military hardware, analysts said.
Heavy dependence on foreign companies for the supply of basic equipment like trucks can only last for a short time, they said.
It could result in the emergence of problems which cost a lot to fix, making such deals financially unsound.
Examples of the deficiency of this policy are not difficult to find.
The army bought a large number of US-made Hummer jeeps around eight years ago without preparing necessary logistical support for the vehicles, analysts said.
The result was that a considerable number of the Hummers started developing serious problems in the second year of service and no technicians at the grassroots level were able to read the English-language maintenance and repair manuals to fix them, the analysts said.
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