President-elect William Lai (賴清德) is considering creating an advanced defense technology agency soon after assuming office later this month, an official with knowledge of the matter said yesterday.
The authority the agency would have and whether the National Security Council or Ministry of National Defense would oversee it has not been decided, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In a pre-recorded video at the Hill and Valley Forum in Washington on Wednesday, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said that Taiwan is a reliable partner and should be included in US defense supply chains.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office via CNA
Taiwan is learning from the US’ experience in 2015 of creating the Defense Innovation Unit under the Department of Defense to facilitate the application of cutting-edge technology to military needs, Hsiao said.
The Ministry of National Defense in June 2016 confirmed it would create a “Taiwanese DARPA” in 2017, a reference to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The ministry-proposed organization, to be staffed by 20 project managers with doctorates in a defense technology-relevant field or who have experience in the industry, was to receive an annual budget of NT$300 million (US$9.27 million), it said at the time.
The unit was intended to facilitate closer military-academic collaboration and ensure that defense projects benefit from up-to-date knowledge, including Academia Sinica’s latest projects, the ministry said.
The unit would avoid programs that appeared to duplicate other projects and endeavors that would waste resources by being created in-house, it said.
The project later floundered amid opposition from military officials and legislators.
At the time, lawmakers and critics of the project demanded that the ministry improve the integration of research and development capabilities in the government, academia and the armament production sector, rather than adding more bureaucracy.
The source said that governments worldwide are establishing mechanisms to manage innovations in defense technology.
As such, the implementation of Lai’s proposal is a certainty, they said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old