Military required to give more info

Lawmakers yesterday revised the National Defense Law (國防法) to require the Ministry of Defense to submit a report on China's military when it submits its annual budget so legislators can better assess defense requirements.

The revision also requires the ministry to include a yearly report sketching the nation's military development and the ministry's administrative status.

The two reports should be handed in together with the ministry's budget proposal before the budgetary review.

Lawmakers said the two new reports are needed to help them scrutinize the defense budget more intelligently.

The legislature adopted the proposal without dispute.

The report on Chinese military strength must include an evaluation of cross-strait security and an analysis of the People's Liberation Army's combat strategy toward Taiwan.

Information regarding the scale and deployment of China's strategic and conventional arsenals, as well as its military threat to Taiwan must also be included.

The revised law now states that the report on military development must outline the ministry's budget allocation plan for the next five years as well as its defense policy goals.

It should also contain information on the armed forces, mid- and long-term plans for arms procurement and deployment, and assessment of cost efficiency.