The most serious defense challenge facing the nation is the opposition's blockade of three important arms-procurement bills in the Legislative Yuan, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.
He said strengthening the nation's defenses will build a solid foundation for cross-strait peace, rather than sparking competition with China.
The president made the comments during a visit to the National Defense University.
He said that the temporary stabilization in cross-strait relations in the 20th century was not built on China's friendliness.
Taiwan has been threatened by China's threat to use military force for more than 50 years. He said complacency would lead to casualties and loss.
"We have to be well prepared in order to prevent a war from starting. Investing in defense today is actually investing in peace, safety and happiness," he said.
The most serious challenge to national defense is the political struggle in the Legislative Yuan, where lawmakers irrationally oppose their opponents' efforts, he said.
"Three essential arms bills have been drafted based on professionals' assessment and Taiwan's real needs," he said.
"How could we expect friendly countries to help us if we ourselves are reluctant to strengthen our national defenses?" he said.
He said the opposition parties are arbitrarily refusing to cooperate with the ruling party.
In the last 10 years, the defense budget has been declining, he said, and now defense capabilities have to be strengthened with advanced technologies in order to cope with the military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait.
The president urged opposition leaders to join forces with the government to ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilians alike.
"If the opposition parties have different thoughts on the amount to be spent on buying arms, we have to reach an agreement through public debates in the Legislative Yuan," he said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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