Taiwan will pay fair price for U.S. helicopters: official
ROC Central News Agency
2010/12/27 20:05:31
Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Taiwan will not have to pay more than other countries to purchase U.S.-made UH-60M helicopters, Deputy Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang assured lawmakers Monday.
In response to a question by ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lin Yu-fang at a hearing in the legislative Foreign and National Defense Committee, Chao said the price of U.S.-made helicopters is public knowledge.
"Taiwan will not have to pay a higher price than other buyers," Chao said.
Lin noted that in the Ministry of National Defense's (MND's) 2008 budget proposal, it had listed a sum of NT$71.8 billion for the purchase of 60 UH-60M helicopters to replace the old UH-1Hs that are still in commission.
However, in the budget presented to the committee Monday, the MND had an allocation of NT$84.7 billion for the helicopters, Lin said.
In 2007, the price quoted by the U.S. was US$2.1 billion, now it has risen to US$2.5 billion, he further noted, asking the MND to seek a price reduction.
In response, Chao stressed that the MND has always done its best to obtain good arms procurement deals.
The increase in the price of the helicopter package was due to the rising costs of materials over the last few years, Chao said.
At the hearing, Lin also asked about the MND's plans for the purchase of new armored vehicles for the Army, as outlined in the ministry's 2009 policy paper.
In response, Chao said the MND is still evaluating the needs of the Army and may increase the number of new armored vehicles to 200. (By Emmanuelle Tzeng and Elizabeth Hsu) enditem /pc
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