The Pentagon has “broadened its concern” about Taiwan’s defense spending, its seriousness about self-defense and the protection of secrets, a report by the US Congressional Research Service says.
Taiwan’s operational readiness, critical infrastructure protection and deterrence programs are also worrying Washington.
Titled Taiwan: Major US Arms Sales Since 1990, the 60-page report by specialist in Asian security affairs Shirley Kan says that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has “failed to invest” in defense at the bipartisan goal of budgeting 3 percent of GDP.
Between 2004 and 2011, US$7.2 billion in US arms has been delivered to Taiwan, making the nation Washington’s fifth-largest customer after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and Australia, the report said.
The report also reveals that the US’ Pentagon submitted a classified study to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 3 this year on the capabilities and readiness of Taiwan’s air force.
The document, which remains top secret, is expected to play a central role in future decisions on selling advanced fighter aircraft to the nation.
“The persistent question for US decisionmakers in the military, administration and Congress is whether the US would go to war with the PRC [People’s Republic of China] over Taiwan and the purpose of any conflict,” the report said.
While some have called for a “clear commitment” to shore up deterrence, others have argued that the US should avoid a war with China and reconsider arms sales to Taiwan.
“Another option would be to limit US assistance to arms sales and related transfers, while not committing US forces,” the report said.
It says that since 2002, some members of US Congress have expressed “increasing concerns” about Taiwan’s commitment to its self-defense, a lack of leadership and its limited contributions to international security.
“Some US observers and officials have urged Taiwan’s civilian and military leaders to place more urgent priority on upgrading Taiwan’s self-defense capability and to increase defense spending, while noting that Taiwan has planned an independent defense since it cannot assume foreign help,” the report says.
The report says there are concerns that Taiwan’s military is “hollowing out,” partly due to problems in recruitment and retention, while trying to shift to an all-volunteer force by next year, and partly due to insufficient investment and commitment by leadership.
“Greater cross-strait integration has raised concerns about the leakage of military technology, intelligence and other secrets from Taiwan to mainland China,” the report says. “There have been concerns about structural weaknesses in Taiwan that could allow for broad and unquestioned access to secrets, particularly by general and flag officers or senior civilian officials.”
The report found that Chinese espionage has been aggressive and comprehensive in targeting the Taiwanese military.
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
GLOBALGIVING: ‘ Caving to external pressure is not acceptable for an organization that has cultivated justice reform and human rights for 30 years,’ one NGO said A slew of non-government organizations (NGOs) have withdrawn from the GlobalGiving fundraising platform after it announced it would use “Chinese Taipei” instead of “Taiwan” from next month. The Taiwan Good Rice Association wrote on Facebook on Friday that it was informed on April 28 via a teleconference call of the change, which was made because the platform wanted to operate in China. Taiwan Good Rice is to terminate all cooperative relationships with GlobalGiving in response to the platform’s “unilateral and non-negotiable” decision to remove references to Taiwan, the NGO said. “Taiwan is in the official name of Taiwan Good Rice Association and the
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday briefed her party’s Central Standing Committee regarding her scheduled visit to the US between Monday next week and June 16, saying that her purpose would be to persuade the US that the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution was a “one China” constitution that would foster stable and peaceful cross-strait relations. The ROC Constitution is the most important defense for all Taiwanese citizens, as it upholds our democracy and has contributed to our robust economy, which aligns with international and US interests, she said. “We would not be troublemakers and drag the US under,”
RSS