The domestically produced fighter jets have long been supported by US technology. Operation “Soaring Eagle” (鷹揚), launched in 1983 by the Aero Industry Development Center — now Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) — marked the beginning of Taiwan’s domestic aircraft manufacturing.
It is thanks to this technology that Taiwan is now able to domestically produce the T-BE5A “Brave Eagle” Advanced Jet Trainers.
The navy’s Cheng Kung-class frigates were built by China Shipbuilding Corp (CSBC) — now CSBC, Taiwan — which laid the foundation for the nation’s navy shipbuilding industry, allowing the nation to domestically build its first submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal.”
Advances in technologies and evolutions on the battlefield — such as in the war between Russia and Ukraine — have shown that uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) are likely to be a mainstay of warfare, in offensive and defensive operations.
They could also be used for non-military applications, such as assisting in disaster relief, agriculture monitoring and infrastructure inspection. With these factors in mind, the government planned a large UAV production and testing campus in Chiayi County, which would have allowed Taiwan to become a key drone producer.
Despite those promising applications, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers have slashed the budget for the program. That could result in losing out on building a high-tech domestic drone production sector. It is akin to losing out on the chance to create the nation’s next AIDC or CSBC, Taiwan.
That could have rippling effects on the development of Minsyong Township (民雄) and National Chung Cheng University, which had invested in the zone. Seeing that the legislator who proposed cut, KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Szu-ming (林思銘), is from Hsinchu County, how would he have any clue about how Chiayi residents feel about the zone?
Following the massive cuts to the national security budget, and with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s daily air and sea harassment operations, Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) stepped forward to voice his concerns.
Po said that the budget cuts and freezes are the most severe in the nation’s history and would seriously impact its fighting capabilities and developments, which China is ecstatic about.
However, KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin’s (徐巧芯) flippant response, saying the legislature would write a check only after the submarine floats, was utterly dumbfounding. Does Hsu know what kind of message it sends if the nation cannot even ensure that its own submarine, painstakingly developed over several years, would be able to undertake sea trials? Why would she make light of the lives of military service members who would serve aboard it and our other vessels?
The national budget bolsters our national defense, while also ensuring that our fighter jets, surface warships, submarines, troops, artillery, armor, engineers and service workers are there when we need them. Every service member faces serious risks to their lives every day as they safeguard ordinary citizens from threats posed by the enemy.
Let us hope that voters can ensure that irresponsible legislators such as Hsu and Lin are recalled from their positions of power.
Voters could teach the KMT and the TPP two lessons: First, nobody can make comments like that without consequences, and second, if they do, voters would soon restore the legislature to normal government operations, bringing Taiwan back onto the right path.
Arthur Chang is a lieutenant commander in the navy reserves.
Translated by Tim Smith
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