Faced with the military threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — and for the sake of security across the Strait, in the region and around the globe — an adequate budget is crucial to ensuring the smooth operation of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the army, the navy and the air force.
Opposition lawmakers, in particular the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), are proposing a NT$1.8 billion (US$54.7 million) reduction to the indigenous submarine project, leaving only NT$200 million for this year. In addition, they have proposed freezing 70 percent of the MND’s operational budget, equivalent to NT$178.1 billion.
KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) also proposed slashing the entire NT$76.25 million budget for an Aerospace and Drone Industry Park in Chiayi County. He later said the caucus would instead propose a freeze of 50 percent of the budget in a statement released after the party was slammed for weakening national defense.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) said the budget cuts and freezes would delay or have a severe impact on the military’s schedule for stepping up its combat readiness. The indigenous submarine project, Hai Kun (海鯤), is crucial to Taiwan’s underwater security, while its minelaying ships project, the production of modern rifles and the development of the Aerospace and Drone Industry Park would all be important during a potential conflict.
Hai Kun is the first indigenous submarine project implemented by the navy. Objectively, the initial construction and research phase will take a long time. A stable and predictable budget is necessary for the project to operate smoothly. If the submarine project does not receive sufficient funds, it would undermine the navy’s underwater combat capability.
Although minelaying ships are not considered capital ships within the navy, the military’s emphasis on innovative and asymmetric warfare capabilities means that they are essential to impeding the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s ability to land on Taiwan. When it comes to stepping up the navy’s combat readiness, the military power of traditional large battleships, as well as smaller and medium-sized ships, are all critical to ensuring that the navy is as strong and effective as possible.
The production of modern rifles and their distribution to the armed forces on the frontline are also key to national defense. Equally important is whether the military could acquire a sufficient number of domestically produced drones, which would depend on the development of the Aerospace and Drone Industry Park.
The importance of using drones to gather military intelligence and attack enemy targets during combat has already been demonstrated in the Ukraine war and the armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The domestic production of drones would not only allow the military to keep up-to-date with new technologies, but would promote the development of relevant industries in central and southern Taiwan.
An adequate and stable defense budget is essential to safeguarding national security and improving the combat readiness of the military, regardless of whether the emphasis is on traditional or asymmetric warfare.
National defense is a public good. Enhancing national security through boosting the strength and capabilities of the military is beneficial to everyone in our country. The MND’s advice should be heeded.
Ray Song is a doctoral student at Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies.
Translated by Fion Khan
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