The legislature must approve a special budget to buy US weapons or risk sending a message that the nation's partisan politics trump more pressing issues like national defense, a high-ranking US official has said.
The unusually frank warning came from Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Richard Lawless to business leaders during a meeting that was closed to the media. A copy of Lawless' speech was obtained yesterday by reporters under the US Freedom of Information Act.
"The passage of this budget is a litmus test of Taiwan's commitment to its self defense," Lawless said in his Oct. 4 address to the US-Taiwan Business Council in America.
A few weeks after Lawless spoke, the legislature decided to not vote yet on the arms package, worth NT$610 billion (US$18 billion). The issue could come up again when the legislature reconvenes after Dec. 11 legislative elections.
The arms deal has become a hot campaign topic with the opposition arguing that the weapons -- including planes, submarines and anti-missile systems -- are too expensive and will spark an arms race with China.
The Democratic Progressive Party said the weapons are essential for fending off an attack by China.
Lawless said the weapons posed an important test for Taiwan's young democracy.
"We believe that a vote against the budget risks sending the message that Taiwan's democracy has not matured to the point where national security trumps partisan politics," he said at the meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
US weapons sales to Taiwan have infuriated China, and Beijing has warned that arming Taipei increases the likelihood of war. In recent years, the US has been the only major nation willing to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan.
Lawless said a failure to pass the arms budget will tell "Beijing that intimidation is an excellent tool of statecraft. And you will guarantee that Taiwan will experience more of the same."
The US has helped defend Taiwan before and many expect that it will do so again if China attacks. But Lawless said many Americans suspect Taiwan isn't committed to its own defense.
He said that if lawmakers don't pass the arms budget, "friends and foes alike may well begin to regard Taiwan as a liability, rather than a partner."
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
RSS