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Lawmakers embark on low-profile arms procurement trip to U.S.

ROC Central News Agency

2007-08-14 20:06:01

    Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Seven lawmakers from across the party spectrum set off on an 11-day visit to the United States Tuesday as part of a feasibility study for a submarine procurement deal aimed at beefing up the country's defense capabilities.

    The lawmakers kept a low profile as they departed, declining to reveal any details about their itinerary or even the number of people in the delegation.

    The members of the group are Shui Hua-ming, Su Chi and Liao Wan-ju of the main opposition Kuomintang, Fu Kun-chi of the opposition People First Party, Ho Ming-hao of the opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union and Chang Hua-kuan and Shen Fa-hui of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Two lawmakers -- Ko Chun-hsiung and Lin Kuo-ching -- who were originally on the delegate list -- did not show up.

    Because of media criticism and partisan disputes over the trip, Vice Defense Minister Ko Cheng-heng canceled a plan to join the group and the duration and itinerary of the journey have both been curtailed.

    The number of Ministry of National Defense (MND) staff members accompanying the lawmakers on the visit has also been reduced, Legislative Yuan Defense Committee sources said.

    In response to media criticism that the trip is a waste of taxpayers' money, the sources said the legislators will have to foot part of their travel expenses out of their own pockets. The remaining fees will be paid by the MND and the Legislative Yuan, the sources said, adding that none of the expenditures will come from the NT$200 million budget set aside for assessing feasibility of the submarine deal as well as the type that most fits Taiwan's needs.

    Besides visiting the Pentagon, the sources said, the delegation will also visit U.S. Navy headquarters and some shipyards on the U.S. East Coast. While the group will make a transit stop in Los Angeles, it has canceled a plan to tour U.S. naval bases on the West Coast and in Hawaii, the sources added.

(By Sofia Wu)

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