Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) on Monday told US defense industry officials that under a DPP administration, Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry would expand and deepen.
He said that, as a result of DPP encouragement, there were an unprecedented number of senior executives from Taiwan’s industries — 30 from 19 different companies — attending the 14th annual US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia.
“They are the team representing a national determination to defend our nation and represent our vision to move our defense forward,” he told the conference.
Wu said the industrialists were from the aviation, shipbuilding and cybersecurity sectors.
He said that some defense items were politically sensitive and difficult for the US to sell and thus, “we would like to have the confidence of producing them in Taiwan with the necessary assistance and support of the US.”
Wu urged Taiwanese companies and the US to discuss in side meetings and “learn how we can find good business opportunities together.”
He said China’s growing military might looms over the Taiwan Strait.
“We do not want to see regional tension evolve into military conflict, we do not want Taiwan to be engulfed in military conflict should it occur and we certainly do not want our vulnerability to attract aggression,” Wu said.
He said Taiwan’s capability or vulnerability deserved a deeper look.
“Even though the cross-strait policies pursued by the current Taiwanese administration are said to have reduced tensions with China, the threat is nonetheless increasing,” Wu said.
He said that with less investment in defense and an unsuccessful attempt to change the recruitment system, Taiwan is more vulnerable than ever.
“The best way for Taiwan to prevent a war from being initiated against it would be for us to acquire credible deterrent capabilities,” Wu said. “We want to strengthen ourselves militarily to maintain cross-strait peace, and if a conflict were unfortunately to take place, we would have the necessary means to survive.”
Wu said that if the DPP returns to power in next year’s Jan. 16 presidential election, it plans to improve the nation’s naval, airborne and cyberdefense capabilities.
If the US will not sell needed weapons, Wu said, “going indigenous is the only meaningful alternative.”
However, Taiwan has an edge in the cyberdomain, which is not being properly and seriously used by the defense establishment.
Wu said that DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had presided over a series of intense discussions aimed at preparing the future of Taiwan’s defense industry.
He said that he was more confident than ever that Taiwan could count on its indigenous industry.
Wu added that he was particularly excited about Taiwan’s potential in cyberdefense.
Senior executives from cybersecurity firm Trend Micro have met with DPP military experts and plan to upgrade some products for military use, Wu said.
Wu said that Taiwanese talent could be relied upon for the nation’s cyberdefense.
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
STRIKE: Some travel agencies in Taiwan said that they were aware of the situation in South Korea, and that group tours to the country were proceeding as planned A planned strike by airport personnel in South Korea has not affected group tours to the country from Taiwan, travel agencies said yesterday. They added that they were closely monitoring the situation. Personnel at 15 airports, including Seoul’s Incheon and Gimpo airports, are to go on strike. They announced at a news conference on Tuesday that the strike would begin on Friday next week and continue until the Mid-Autumn Festival next month. Some travel agencies in Taiwan, including Cola Tour, Lion Travel, SET Tour and ezTravel, said that they were aware of the situation in South Korea, and that group
RSS