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Opposition lawmakers blast arms company

ROC Central News Agency

2008-02-22 13:46:49

    Taipei, Feb. 22 (CNA) Legislators from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) derided Friday the government's justification of a newly established defense company named Taiwan Goal.

    Speaking at the first session of the KMT-dominated new legislature, KMT Legislator Wu Ching-chih lashed out at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration for "secretly" establishing Taiwan Goal late last month with capital of NT$1 billion (US$31.75 million) and paid-in capital totaling NT$80 million, to handle arms deals worth over NT$150 billion a year.

    Wu criticized Premier Chang Chun-hsiung for "not mentioning a word" about Taiwan Goal in his written administrative report expected to be delivered at the Legislative Yuan later that day.

    Vice Premier Chiuo I-jen was quoted as having told incumbent and former DPP lawmakers earlier this week that the establishment of Taiwan Goal -- a joint venture between the government and private investors and led by Wu Nai-jen, a stalwart of the DPP's now disbanded New Tide faction -- is mainly aimed at "diversifying the sources of Taiwan's arms procurement."

    The KMT legislator claimed that Taiwan Goal -- which is beyond the control of either the Ministry of National Defense (MND) or the legislature -- is an operation using "government funds to benefit a few individuals."

    Noting that even MND Armaments Bureau Director Wu Wei-jung had suggested that "it is not appropriate for the ministry to fund a private arms firm, " KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying said Taiwan Goal's establishment is "obviously questionable."

    Wu Wei-jung made the remarks when he attended a news conference called by Kuo Su-chun, a whip of the KMT legislative caucus, two days earlier.

    He said that after a cautious overview, he suggested that the plan for the MND to hold a 45 percent stake in the company is unfeasible. "Although the idea of establishing the company is good, the timing is inappropriate because of the March 22 presidential election, which may give rise to misgivings," he said.

    KMT Legislator Pan Wei-kang questioned the timing of Taiwan Goal's establishment and claimed that the company is a vehicle through which the Chen Shui-bian administration plans to steal the country's military resources before it bows out in May.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/J