Defense minister says arms buildup acts as deterrent

Taiwan's Defense Minister Wu Shi-wen (伍世文) has defended Taipei's arms buildup saying a deterrent was needed in the face of an increased military threat from China, it was reported yesterday.

Despite furious objections by Beijing, the US government last month approved the single biggest arms package to Taiwan since 1992.

The packed includes eight diesel-powered submarines, 12 P-3C "sub-hunting" patrol aircraft and four Kidd class destroyers.

"The purpose of buying advanced weapons is to set up a deterrent," Wu said while attending a seminar Saturday.

"To safeguard Taiwan and the offshore islands, the military must keep upgrading its defense capability."

When asked to comment on fears of sparking an arms race with China, Wu said Taiwan had little choice while Beijing was spending a huge amount of money on sophisticated Russian-made weaponry, local media reported.

"When the spear sharpens, the shield has to improve as well," Wu said.

China has at least 300 ballistic missiles pointed at Taiwan, according to the defense ministry here. Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said last month that, according to Pentagon estimates, the number will rise to 800 by 2006.

Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should it declare formal independence from China.

But Wu would not specify how much money the defense ministry may eventually spend on the arms package as the legislature is still debating whether to purchase the Kidd-class destroyers.

"We are not yet decided on the arms we are going to buy. So I cannot say for sure the exact amount of money to be used for the purpose," he said.

Local media have said Wu and General Tao Yao-ming (湯曜明), chief of the general staff, briefed some lawmakers on the arms package at a closed-door session on Friday in a bid to win their backing.

The military has put the price of the arms package at an estimated NT$270 billion (US$8.2 billion) if the four Kidd destroyers are included.

Some lawmakers have criticized the idea of buying the destroyers.

"Now that the Kidd destroyer has a displacement of 9,000 tonnes, none of Taiwan's existing military harbors can be used as its base," said Lee Ching-hua (李慶華), a lawmaker with the opposition People First Party.