The legislature's defense and organizing laws committees yesterday passed the preliminary screening of a draft regulation aimed at finally bringing to life the military armament bureau of the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The draft is expected to become law after the second and third readings. The long-awaited legislation will provide a legal basis to the military armament bureau which started operations on March 1 despite the lack of a law to support its existence.
The bureau's organizational regulations were due to have passed through the legislature before March 1 but, because of a number of delays, are still outstanding.
One reason for the delay was arguments inside the military, especially between branches that will be severely affected by the bureau's establishment.
Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
"I have no choice but to move in the direction since it is the lawmakers' insistence that the military armament bureau should be established," Tang said.
Tang refused to admit, however, that he thinks the bureau is a bad idea, although it is widely rumored he holds severe reservations about its establishment.
The military armament bureau is designed to integrate weaponry research and manufacturing as well as logistical components of the military, but if it is to operate as planned, several branches of the military are likely to disappear.
Most affected will be the combined logistics command, defense officials said, with the bureau taking over its weapons factories -- a vital aspect of the command's role.
Logistics command will instead be left to deal with departments such as transportation, maintenance and supply.
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