Anti-Sub Aircraft Purchase Set For Legislative Approval

, Approval for the purchase of 12 P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, one of the three items in an arms package offered by the United States, is set to clear the Legislature later this fall session after the National Defense Committee Monday approved the 2007 budget for buying the weapons. 
 
The planned procurement, which had been held up along with the acquisition of six anti-missile batteries and eight diesel-fueled submarines over the last two and a half years, gained approval from ruling and opposition lawmakers alike. 
 
The breakthrough came after opposition Kuomintang lawmakers agreed to stop boycotting purchase of the aircraft on grounds that they are reasonably priced and necessary to the enhancement of Taiwan's naval defense capacity. 
 
KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang, a member of the defense committee, said his party reached a consensus two months ago to back the purchase of the aircraft that are estimated to cost NT$47 billion which will be drawn down between 2006 and 2012. 
 
The National Defense Ministry has proposed NT$6.1 billion in its annual classified budget for next year. 
 
“The purchase of the aircraft is virtually set, though the ministry has first to explain why it must award the contract to a particular American company,” Lin said. 
 
The defense ministry has suggested allowing Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp. to recondition the used aircraft, at the recommendation of U.S. naval experts. 
 
Some critics in Taiwan have voiced suspicions that tradeoffs between the defense ministry and U.S. arms dealers came after a former U.S. official, Richard Armitage, advised Taiwan to make the purchase from another company. 
 
To address the concern, opposition lawmakers attached a resolution to the budget that would require the defense ministry to hold a public hearing on why it favors Lockheed Martin over other companies. 
 
Wu Chi-fang, spokesman of the defense ministry, said that the company, as the original maker of the aircraft, has the know-how to extend the aircraft's lifespan for another 15 to 20 years. 
 
Besides the aircraft, KMT lawmakers also approved an extra NT$3.5 billion in annual secret funds to upgrade three existing PAC II anti-missile systems for next year, despite protests from their colleagues in the allied People First Party. 
 
Su Chi, another KMT lawmaker on the defense committee, said his party will stick to its own stance on the arms package whether its pan-blue ally agrees or not. The PFP, the second largest opposition party, has said it will back only the NT$200 million fund to assess the necessity of the diesel-powered submarines. 
 
As the defense ministry has provided little information about the submarines, Su said his colleagues had decided to [cut] the cost of NT$4.5 billion to NT$200 million for next year. 
 
“The sum is intended to keep the purchase plan alive and to delay a final decision until later,” Su said, adding that his caucus considers the cost of acquiring the submarines, allegedly at NT$400 billion altogether, overly high. 
 
Additionally, the KMT lawmakers crossed out a fund for the purchase of PAC III anti-missile systems, saying they will not address the issue until after the effect of the 2004 referendum expires next March. 
 
Nonetheless, the KMT concessions drew applause from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the defense ministry. DPP lawmaker Tang Hou-shen said he is pleased that the arms package was finally able to gain ground in the Legislature since the Bush administration approved its sales in April 2001. 
 
“I appreciate the cooperation of opposition lawmakers on the issue,” Tang said. “While they did not agree to the purchase of all three items, they did not kill any of them either. I believe there is still room for negotiations before the end of the budgetary review.” 
 
The defense ministry echoed the theme, saying it will continue to seek support from opposition lawmakers until they accept the need for the arms package.