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MND REBUTS KMT HEAD'S CLAIM ABOUT ARMS PROCUREMENT DELAY

Central News Agency

2005-07-11 22:34:04

    Taipei, July 11 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) rebutted opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's claim Monday that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration is "hindering" an early passage of an arms deal with the United States. "Lien's claim is not factual, " the MND pointed out in a press statement, adding that the claim is also illogical.

    The MND statement said President Chen Shui-bian has on numerous occasions called for public and legislative support for an early passage of the arms procurement package.

    The Cabinet has also expressed its hope that the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan can convene an extra session during its current summer recess to screen the special statute on the arms procurement package and the related budget bill, the statement said.

    Two legislative sessions have passed since the MND referred the draft special statute on the arms procurement package, which includes eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft, to the legislature in June 2004, the MND statement noted, adding that the legislature's Procedure Committee has 26 times rejected putting the bill onto its legislative agenda.

    The committee's rejection has deprived the legislature of the opportunity to conduct a rational and substantial debate on the package, the statement said. The KMT and its "pan-blue alliance" ally -- the People First Party -- jointly control a slim majority in the Procedure Committee.

    Meanwhile, the MND statement also rebutted Lien's claim that the NT$480 billion arms procurement package is too costly and beyond the nation's financial ability.

    Noting that the government's current defense budget only accounts for 2.54 percent of Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) , the statement said the ratio is far below the average level of many other countries.

    Stressing that the NT$480 arms procurement package will be budgeted over a period of 15 years, the statement said that even if this amount is calculated, the total defense budget will account for only 2.85 percent of the GDP. "The amount is reasonable and we can afford to pay for the package," the statement said.

    For the sake of maintaining sufficient defense capabilities to cope with China's military threat, the statement said the MND hopes the opposition parties will support the package and pass the budget as early as possible.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J