Wed, Oct 19, 2005 page3

• Public indifference, corruption dog the nation's military

  ARMS PURCHASE Many who have done their military service doubt the nation's defense capability and wonder if the proposed arms purchase will make a difference

  • By Rich Chang / STAFF REPORTER
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  The pan-blue camp's boycott of the special arms budget to purchase three weapons systems from the US reflects the indifference of some Taiwanese toward the country's defense.

  Some Taiwanese have no confidence in the nation's defense capability and wonder whether the three high-tech weapons systems the government has proposed buying would really be able to boost the country's defenses.

  In Taiwan, one of the few countries in the world to require mandatory military service, many people have military experience. By law, all Taiwanese men over the age of 18 are required to fulfill two years of compulsory military service, although this was shortened to 18 months in July.

  Some of those who have served express doubts on the proposed arms purchase.

  "I do not think that these expensive weapons systems will be able to immediately boost Taiwan's security since I have witnessed inefficiencies in our army," said Stone Jung (莊錦棟), who did his compulsory service in the army.

  "The quality of weapons and equipment used by the military was so poor, and I think this has eroded the military's combat capability," Jung added.

  For example, Jung said, there were about 40 armored vehicles in his unit. While the unit told its supervisors that all vehicles were combat-ready, military personnel in the unit knew that just half of the vehicles were operational.

  "I would prefer that the military spend money on rifles and other basic military equipment rather than on expensive high-tech weapons," said Lai Cheng-chang (賴振昌), another former soldier who did his compulsory service in an army infantry unit.

  "Only special forces, which are equipped with high quality weapons, are able to fight efficiently. Others are not," Lai said.

  In addition to men with military experience, according to a poll done by Chinese Culture University in June, more than 65 percent of male university students don't want to go to war with China. Of those, 30.5 percent said they didn't think Taiwan could survive a Chinese military invasion and 25.6 percent though they would be the "victims" of a war.

  The indictment of former Armed Forces Reserve Command vice commander Lieutenant General Hsieh Kang Chien (謝抗建) last month revealed why the armed forces' weapons and equipment are so bad, and that corruption in the military is still rampant.

  According to Taipei prosecutors, Hsieh and former army rear admiral Yao Kai-lin (姚凱林) became advisers to a military equipment company immediately after retiring, helping the company to win a large number of military contracts through illegal means.

  Prosecutors said Hsieh and Lin used their military connections to broker the purchases, and received millions in kickbacks from the company.

  Prosecutors said the retired high-ranking officials helped the company to win more than 70 contracts, including infrared night-vision scopes for three major types of army tanks.

  The infrared night-vision scopes cost about NT$8 million (US$238,000), but the military paid the company six times that amount, prosecutors added.

  Other contracts included flight-control computer systems for the air force's Boeing 737s, and key parts of major missiles -- including TOW, hawk and patriot missiles.

  Prosecutors said the company not only handed the military old equipment that it passed off as new, but also delivered faulty equipment made in Taiwan that it said was imported.

  In the indictment, prosecutors criticized the retired officials for endangering the country. They not only wasted the defense ministry's money but put the nation's security at risk, prosecutors said.

  Prosecutors also handed over to military prosecutors several navy and army officials involved in the case, who had checked and passed the faulty equipment and received kickbacks.

  Prosecutors said Hsieh's case formed just a small part of corruption in the military, and they have discovered more procurement scandals and are striving to bring them to court.

  Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑) told the legislature he was sorry to hear about the scandal involving Hsieh, and that the ministry has made an effort to prevent corruption.

  "The ministry in October 2003 established the Procurement Management Division under the Armaments Bureau, which is in charge of the acquisition of major weapons systems and equipment that cost more than NT$5 million," Lee told legislators.

  "We choose clean officials to be in charge of and supervise the weapons acquisition process," Lee said.

  "I also told the military ... Give me true reports on what equipment, weapons and logistical support you need, and I will give it to you," Lee said.

  Lee said officials' careers would not be affected if they reported the true situation.

  Although Lee has shown a determination to bolster the armed forces' weapons and equipment, the ministry faces dwindling defense budgets.

  The nation's defense spending has fallen from 2.8 percent of GDP in 2001 to 2.4 percent this year, while the ministry has said 3 percent of GDP is the minimum it needs to maintain an effective defense force.

  "We are facing difficulties. But to protect the country, the ministry has to haggle over every penny and spend the money on necessities," Lee added.
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