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Navy confirms interest in Kidd-class destroyers

The navy yesterday confirmed media reports that it once had plans to buy de-commissioned Kidd-class destroyers from the US, but the idea was shelved.

"It is just part of the many arms purchase plans that are being considered by the navy, that may be cancelled or deferred for some reason," a navy official told the Taipei Times. "It is hard to say whether the Kidd-class destroyer idea will come to fruition after having been shelved for several years."

The official said the navy would continue to put its priority on acquiring AEGIS-class destroyers.

"Although the AEGIS ships are more expensive and harder to obtain than the Kidd [destroyers], money will not be a problem once the US government agrees to sell them to Taiwan," the official said.

"Of the alternatives we are faced with, one, is that if the US does not provide AEGIS ships to Taiwan we may buy not the whole ship, but just the state-of-the-art radar and combat systems. We will seek instead to build a land-based AEGIS system," the naval official said.

"The Kidd-class destroyers do not really suit our defense needs. We have already three types of new-generation warships. But the Kidd ships can be used as a bargaining chip in our negotiations with the US over other more important arms deals."

The navy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, made the comment yesterday in response to media reports about Taiwan's plans to lease and buy four de-commissioned Kidd-class destroyers from the US as an alternative to the eagerly desired AEGIS ships.

London-based Jane's Defence Weekly was the first to report on the issue.

What the official has said, however, tells only part of the story behind the navy's handling of arms purchases in recent years.

A high-ranking defense official, who is not from the navy, said the reason the navy has not dared push for any big ticket items over the last six years is because of the 1993 murder of navy captain Yin Ching-feng (尹清楓) and the related Lafayette-class frigate purchase scandal.

"No navy official wants to get in trouble for arms purchases. They choose to do nothing. They still submit plans to buy some new weapon systems, but they are quite willing to withdraw the plans as long as there is opposition from other services or inside the service," the official said.

"It fits the traditional Chinese saying: `The less you do, the less mistakes you make.'"

Such a passive attitude toward arms purchases has angered a general-turned-lawmaker, who criticizes the naval leadership as being negligent in its duties.

"Navy chief Admiral Li Chieh (李傑) should take some responsibility for the matter. I cannot understand why the navy has not pushed for any big arms deals over the past six years," said retired army lieutenant general and KMT Legislator Chou Cheng-chih (周正之).
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