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DEFENSE MINISTRY EARMARKS BUDGET FOR PURCHASING F-16S NEXT YEAR

ROC Central News Agency

2006-08-29 17:23:06

    Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has set aside a budget for purchasing F-16 jet fighters from the United States next year, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

    Deputy Defense Minister Kao Kuang-yi made the remarks as reports from Washington, D.C. indicated that the White House's National Security Council and the State Department had recommended that the Bush administration reject the sale of 66 F-16C/D fighters to Taiwan.

    Defense Minister Lee Jye said he met with a few U.S. representatives Monday to exchange views on Taiwan's plan to purchase more jet fighters.

    He added that before things become clearer, the MND will keep working on the procurement plan.

    According to Kao, the ministry's budget proposal for fiscal 2007, which begins Jan. 1 of next year, includes funds for the procurement of three major weapons systems that has been stalled in the legislature.

    The government's proposal to purchase anti-missile batteries, submarines and anti-submarine aircraft has not cleared the legislative floor mainly because of opposition from the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the Kuomintang and People First Party.

    Lee visited legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng Tuesday to again seek his support, and he called for the opposition lawmakers to approve the proposal which they have blocked over 40 times over the past three years.

    Lee said the U.S. agreed that Taiwan needs the three major weapons systems to beef up its defense capability, adding that he hopes the lawmakers will rise above their political differences to help boost the nation's defense in the face of the growing military threat from China.

    Kao said this year's defense budget was NT$71 billion (US$2.16 billion) more than last year. As the government's total spending was up by NT$90 billion, increased defense spending has not affected the budgets of other government departments, he noted.

    He pointed out that the additional funds were mainly used in military investment and the ministry's daily operations. More than NT$20 billion was used to buy precision bombs and improve ammunition depots, he added.

(By S.C. Chang)

ENDITEM/Li