The Taiwan People Party’s (TPP) caucus today introduced a motion that would authorize the Executive Yuan to sign letters of offer and acceptance (LOA) for three major US arms purchases before the relevant budget has been formally approved.
The legislature later this afternoon forwarded the motion directly to a second reading.
As the LOAs are set to expire on March 15, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) has urged the Legislative Yuan to grant prior authorization to ensure the deals remain on track.
Photo courtesy of the Taiwan People's Party
The potential purchases include tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missiles; Javelin anti-armor missiles; and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers.
TPP caucus deputy convener Wang An-hsiang (王安祥) said that the party is willing to respond to the ministry’s request for prior authorization amid widespread concern over the looming deadline.
Before joining deliberations in the Foreign Affairs and National Defense and Finance committees today, Wang said that the TPP expects the process to return to the proper track of legislative review and demanded a clear delivery schedule for these weapon systems.
The TPP in its motion accused the Cabinet of lacking transparency in the planning and decision-making process for its NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.46 billion) special defense budget, proposed in November last year.
Details about major military procurements have often been shielded from democratic oversight, undermining the legislature’s authority, the motion said.
The TPP also accused the government of shifting blame for delays in military purchases onto the opposition parties to cover its “administrative incompetence.”
The motion further stipulates that the Executive Yuan should immediately submit a comprehensive report to the legislature detailing delivery schedules upon signing.
The government must fulfill its duty to provide full explanations and "must no longer use 'national security' as a pretext to evade democratic scrutiny and rational oversight," the motion says.
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