2005-10-27 Arms Procurement : Four Unreasonable Places

Arms Procurement : Four Unreasonable Places
People First Party
　1.Unreasonable in Quality
　　(1) In Fact, till now, we haven’t known the model number of each individual weapon, so that the evaluation in parliament has not yet been processed.
　　(2) Antiquated P3-C anti-sub aircraft, started its service in 1969, has already exceeded 35 years, older than its pilots perhaps, and is now getting harder and costly for maintenance.
　　(3) The patriotic missile so far has not been passed through the verification by the US government because of its relatively high in-accuracy.
　　Are we really going to fight against China’s advanced weapons with those antiquated arms and with those we do not even know the model number?
　2.Unreasonable in Price
　　A total amount of up to US$12.1 billion of submarine budget for Taiwan is actually worth of purchasing 8 nuclear-powered subs, Ohio class, with ballistic missiles loaded (around US$1.5 billion each). But now, we don’t even know the sub’s model number, but just a word of “submarine” informed.
　　It is only to cost South Korean government around US$13 billion to buy an in-service sub, including tech-transfer. However, for Taiwan, it costs almost US$50 billion to buy one. Are we an idiot?
　3.Unreasonable in Quantity
　　According to an analysis made by naval experts, 6 anti-sub aircrafts are fairly enough for Taiwan to secure, rather than 12 that the DPP government insists.
　　In addition, a total amount of NT$370 million is needed for Taiwan to buy a patriotic missile and its related equipments for knocking a Scud missile off in the air, which only costs China NT$16 million each. According to US experience in Gulf War, thus, with 4 to 1 for success, it going to be 96 times of cost to successfully intercept a Scud missile for Taiwan, compared to the U.S..
　4.Unreasonable in Procedure
　　DPP government ever said that referendum is the highest demonstration of people’s will. In 2004, the referendum on arms procurements had been voted down already. How can the DPP government fry the issue up again? If the ruling DDP government truly admits the result of 2004 referendum made by Taiwanese people, the arms procurement shall be abandoned fully.
　　What can Taiwan do for up to NT$610.8 billion budget of arms procurements?
　　1.Taiwan can form 6 Agricultural Subsidy for Import & Export Damages Foundations.
　　2.Taiwan can form 12 Foundations for Aboriginal Economic Development.
　　3.Taiwan can subsidize up to 70,000 students islandwide who are suffering from financial difficulties in paying tuition and lunch fee in school.
　　4.Taiwan can take care of those elderly peoples and farmers for more than 25 years.
　　5.Taiwan’s premium in health insurance won’t be increased for up to 14 years.
　　6.Taiwan can help out up to 180,000 low-income families to pay for tuition and other expenses in school for their children for 142 years.
　　7.Taiwan can allow up to 75,000 unemployed people not to seek for job for 30 years.
　　8.Taiwan can build up totally 122 Guggenheim Museums, and 70 Centers for Art and Culture.