The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday made public its blue paper on national defense, vowing to push for domestically made submarines as well as next-generation warplanes if it returns to power in the 2016 presidential election.
“The DPP is determined to revive national defense,” DPP Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told a news conference at the party’s headquarters yesterday morning. “Our first determination is to promote Taiwanese-built submarines and the self-production of warplanes, and our second determination is that the DPP create an open and competitive environment to promote upgrading the national defense industry.”
He said that if the DPP returns to power in 2016, it would make sure that national defense budgets would be at least 3 percent of GDP, which would be an increase of approximately NT$110 billion (US$3.61 billion) over the current average national defense budget of NT$319 billion.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
“We would make sure that our armed forces would have the best equipment with a sufficient budget,” Wu said. “It would also help to boost the economy and create more employment opportunities.”
Chen Wen-cheng (陳文政), an assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies who also attended the press conference, supported the DPP proposal.
“Although arms purchases are often seen by top officials in the national security system as important in Taiwan’s collaboration with foreign allies, arms deals could also often become deadlocked due to political issues,” Chen said, adding that it is therefore important for the nation to have the capacity to produce its own military equipment.
Wu said that he would take the blue paper to the US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference set to begin tomorrow in Williamsburg, Virginia, to discuss the party’s national defense policies with US officials, think tank members and Taiwanese defense officials.
“There will be no partisan division, though partisan division is normal in a democracy like Taiwan. When we are abroad, we all represent Taiwan — regardless of party affiliations,” Wu said.
The paper was the seventh of 12 blue papers the DPP plans to publish before May next year to present a full picture of the party’s national defense policy.
A source within the party said that the previous papers have been well-received among the national defense circle in the US.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS