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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Defense
Subs on the way?
Taiwan is expected to push through a defense budget of nearly NT$300 billion (US$8.93 billion) to procure eight conventional submarines from the US, a news report said yesterday. The Cabinet Friday approved the budget for the deal under the condition that the nation would build some of the submarines on its own, a Chinese-language newspaper said. Taiwan hopes the state-run China Shipbuilding will be partly involved in building four of the diesel-electric submarines and will build two on its own, the paper said. But the arms budget still requires parliamentary approval. Jane's Defence Weekly recently cited sources saying Taiwan's plan to build some of the vessels by itself "is very likely going to kill the whole deal," adding that the nation lacks the construction and testing infrastructure. Government officials declined to comment on the report. The deal has progressed slowly, as the US has not built conventional submarines for more than 40 years. Taiwan is also slated to buy a dozen submarine-hunting P3C Orion aircraft and three Patriot anti-missile systems from the US.

■ Trade
Deals reached in India
A trade mission specializing in medical equipment and instruments visiting India has obtained orders worth US$250,000 and is following up on trade opportunities, worth US$2.17 million, that were discussed in New Delhi, the first stop on its current trip, officials said yesterday. The mission, organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and composed of representatives of seven Taiwan companies, went on to Mumbai after leaving New Delhi. During its stay in Mumbai, the officials said, the mission members will hold individual business talks with their Indian counterparts, visit local business groups and attend seminars on the development of the medical industry.

■ Agriculture
Irrigation may be postponed
Irrigation for a second crop on Taiwan's largest grain-growing area, the Chianan Plain, may be postponed because reservoirs are facing a water shortage, officials of the Chianan Irrigation Association said yesterday. Although storms that approached the nation recently brought rain to the south, the Chiayi and Tainan areas received little rainfall. The water levels of the Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫) and the Tsengwen Reservoir (曾文水庫) in Tainan County are extremely low because rain has been scarce since last November.

■ Politics
Lien: Get ready
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) has instructed his party's officials to prepare for the presidential election anew, a KMT spokeswoman said yesterday. Kuo Shu-chun (郭素春) said that Lien is confident of winning the lawsuit he filed with the Taiwan High Court to nullify the results of the March 20 presidential election, which the spokeswoman said was rife with irregularities. She said that a recount of votes initiated by the KMT and its political ally, the People First Party, has uncovered many electoral irregularities which she said cannot simply be considered mistakes committed by election officials. Lien will start a tour of the nation early next month in which he will thank his supporters and canvass for support for KMT candidates in December's legislative elections, Kuo said.

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