The revised arms procurement bill proposed by the Ministry of National Defense was blocked again in the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday. After Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators last week made a verbal promise that they would let the revised bill through a Procedure Committee meeting after the government withdrew the initial package, they reneged on their word. This raises worries about the nation's security.
According to the 2006 National Defense Report published by the ministry, China continues to expand its military spending. In addition to adding advanced weapons from Russia, China is also developing and manufacturing a new generation of jet fighters and warships.
Furthermore, China has engaged in combined exercises with foreign countries, which are expected to increase its influence in the region. These actions indicate that China's military threat is intensifying and poses a threat to the security of the Taiwan Strait.
Most people in Taiwan hope that their representatives can be rational enough to at least take a look at the arms procurement package in the legislature.
Legislators who veto the arms bill because of their political perspective are placing their party's interests before the nation's. I would like people to be aware of the need for a strong defense in light of the threat posed by China, and hope that they can express this concern to their legislative representatives.
Dai Kaifeng
Taichung
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