The NT$610.8 billion (US$18.25 billion) arms budget the Cabinet is seeking from the legislature is necessary to prevent Beijing from launching a military assault against the island, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.
"Of course we'd like to see the military budget take up as little of the annual budget as possible, but the premise has to be that national security is not in jeopardy," Yu told reporters yesterday in Chiufen.
The armed forces need more advanced US equipment if the nation aspires to maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region, Yu said.
"How do we expect to safeguard the country if we're not well-armed?" the premier said. "We cannot solely rely on the US to protect us once Beijing launches a military attack."
While Taiwan has been cutting military spending, Yu said that China has made double-digit increases in its military budget every year since 1995.
The nation's military expenditures accounted for 24.3 percent of the total budget in 1994. They accounted for only 16.5 percent last year and dwindled to 15.1 percent in next year's annual budget proposed by the Cabinet.
Out of the Cabinet's proposed special budget of NT$610.8 billion, NT$412 billion would go for eight diesel-electric submarines, NT$145 billion would be allocated for six Patriot anti-missile systems and NT$53 billion for 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft. The money will be spent over the next 15 years.
The Cabinet has specified that Taiwanese companies be involved in building the eight submarines, though the US has said that doing so would drive up the cost substantially.
During a visit to the US in June to discuss Taiwan's arms procurement projects, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Yu, who is scheduled to embark on a 12-day visit next Thursday to three diplomatic allies in Central America, said that it would be difficult for him to discuss the arms procurement plan with US officials during his upcoming trip because of the short length of his transit stopover in the US.
Although Yu said that it was a diplomatic norm to hear different viewpoints from opposition parties regarding the arms procurement plan, he said he felt sorry for opposition lawmakers who did not dare to criticize Beijing's military intimidation but berated the Cabinet for its budget proposal.
Yu cited recent examples of Beijing's bullying behavior against Taiwan, mentioning the Aboriginal pop diva Chang Hui-mei (
A-mei had originally cancelled a concert due to protests by students from Zhejiang University, who accused her of supporting Taiwan's independence.
A-mei eventually performed a controversial concert in Beijing last Saturday, where hecklers brought her to tears onstage.
Lee conducted a low-profile private visit to the nation in June before taking up his new role as Singapore's prime minister. China later threatened to delay talks on a free trade deal with Singapore in retaliation for Lee's visit.
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
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