MND MUM ON U.S. MILITARY SUPPLY PROCUREMENT IN TAIWAN
Central News Agency
2005-02-28 16:17:23
Taipei, Feb. 28 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) refrained from making any comment Monday on media reports that the U.S. military is considering procuring military supplies from Taiwan as part of its efforts to reduce costs.
According to media reports, a delegation organized by the Comparative Testing Office (CTO) of the U.S. Department of Defense is scheduled to arrive in Taipei this weekend to assess Taiwan's capability of supplying military equipment. The delegation reportedly will meet with officials of the MND's military supply bureau and senior executives of local high-tech companies.
Responding to media inquiries, MND spokesman Liu Chih-chien said the MND has customarily not made any comments on reports about military procurement deals.
Other MND officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the upcoming visit is part of the U.S. military's regular global business trip aimed at negotiating terms or placing orders for procuring military equipment components, spare parts and other supplies, such as military boots.
With a view to cutting costs and diversifying supply sources, the officials said the Pentagon has usually purchased military supplies from Asian countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
According to media reports, the U.S. delegation, to be composed of five military officers and a civilian official, would meet Taiwan defense and economic officials and high-tech firms in a five-day visit.
They will bring with them a shopping list of over 300 items, ranging from aircraft components, ammunition, laptop computers to satellite telephones and infrared equipment. The delegation is expected to submit a report to the Pentagon in June on the outcome of their evaluation, the report said.
(By Sofia Wu)
enditem/mw
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