Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
The US agreed to sell Taiwan the submarines in an April 2001 arms deal, the largest weapons sale to Taiwan from the US in a decade.
Observers have said that delivering on the promised subs could be difficult, if not impossible, given that the US no longer builds diesel submarines.
Tang made the remarks when he visited the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus in the Legislative Yuan to solicit support for next year's defense budget.
TSU Legislator Ho Min-hao (
Ho was referring to the concept of the US allowing Taiwan's state-owned China Shipbuilding Corp (CSBC) to help with the construction of the first of the submarines and then turn over the entire project to CSBC to finish via transfer of technology.
Ho said that Tang agreed with the policy of Taiwan building the subs and said as much to Shaheen, the top US liaison official with Taiwan, who arrived in Taipei on Monday for a weeklong fact-finding trip.
Tang did not comment on Shaheen's response but said that many obstacles must be overcome for Taiwan to participate in the submarine-building project, according to Ho.
Ho also said that Tang, while explaining the defense budget, said that the defense ministry has listed C4ISR (command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems as its top purchase priority next year, and will include in the 2005 budget funds for the purchase of six Patriot missile batteries to upgrade the combat readiness of the nation.
During the same meeting with the TSU legislators, Tang also addressed concerns over the recent failure of the navy's torpedo test firings.
One of two torpedoes fired at a stationary, de-commissioned destroyer failed to hit its target Tuesday. Another similar test failed early last month.
Tang stressed that the navy officials in charge of the exercise are all well trained and that the problem lies with the hardware -- the torpedoes -- and not with the men who fired them.
He pointed out that torpedoes were purchased some 10 or 20 years ago, and that he had now instructed his subordinates to review the torpedo inventory regularly and test fire the torpedoes occasionally.
Tang also instructed that the purchase contracts should be reviewed to see if there is an after-sale guarantee. If it so, the ministry will seek redress, he said.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS