President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the suggestion after listening to a Cabinet report on the 2006 Central Government budget plan.
Premier Frank Hsieh (
Vice President Annette Lu (
After listening to the briefing, Chen made several suggestions, including no pay hikes for government employees, military personnel and public school teachers, but increases in research and development funding and defense and diplomatic spending.
Chen said the Cabinet should try its best to realize the goal of raising annual R&D spending to 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year to speed up Taiwan's scientific and technological development.
With a view to beefing up Taiwan's defense capabilities, Chen said military spending should be increased to 3 percent of the GDP in three years.
In the face of China's relentless diplomatic suppression of Taiwan and the fact that the nation's foreign aid still falls below UN-set standards, Chen said the diplomatic budget should be raised at an appropriate rate.
He further said the law enforcement-related budget should be raised to accentuate the government's determination to crack down on crime and maintain law and order.
Over the past five years, Chen said, government investment in expanding domestic demand and infrastructure construction have consistently registered negative growth. In order to boost economic development and increase job opportunities, he said, the Cabinet should study the feasibility of increasing spending in those fields.
According to the DGBAS-drafted budget plan, government revenues are projected at NT$1.4 trillion and expenditures are forecast at NT$1.59 trillion, leaving a budget deficit of NT$190 billion. Moreover, the government will have to repay NT$65 billion in outstanding debts next year.
In addition to using a budget surplus of NT$21.7 billion from the previous year, the government plans to float NT$239 billion-worth of state bonds to make ends meet.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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