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Premier defends controversial private defense company

ROC Central News Agency

2008-02-15 15:59:40

    Taipei, Feb. 15 (CNA) Premier Chang Chun-hsiung reaffirmed Friday that the controversial establishment of a private company to handle Taiwan's foreign arms transactions was appropriate and necessary to "develop an independent defense industry."

    The premier contended that the company will serve as a platform to integrate Taiwan's arms purchases and procurement projects, and will help upgrade both Taiwan's domestic arms industry and the economy as a whole.

    Taiwan Goal's main targets, he said, would be "to give rise to Taiwan's arm sales, upgrade Taiwan's defense industry and develop independent technologies."

    News of the formation of the company, called Taiwan Goal, emerged Wednesday and was confirmed by the Ministry of National Defense, which will hold a 45 percent stake in the venture with an NT$90 million investment.

    The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) criticized the company as constituting a political arrangement favoring the former New Tide faction of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and questioned the timing of the new venture, launched less than two months before Taiwan's March 22 presidential election.

    Chang insisted, however, that the arms broker, which would include the involvement of various government sectors, would be closely monitored by the legislature, stressing "this is the essence of democracy."

    He dismissed reports that his Cabinet would receive a hefty commission for setting up the firm, saying "the Executive Yuan is not as naive as that." "We should use a broader perspective to look at the case, " Chang stressed.

    Describing the establishment of Taiwan Goal as a beginning, Chang said the government had an obligation to carry out its policies, regardless of when the presidential election is held, and he believed the company would be seen through by the new government and executives appointed by the new president. "The government must continue carrying out policies that benefit both the nation and its people," Chang said.

(By Howard Lin)

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