Taipei's Arms Procurement Dilemma: Implications for Defending Taiwan. Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Volume 3 - Number 4, April 2004
Abstract
Between 1995 and 2002, Taipei imported more than $20 billion worth of foreign weaponry, making it the worlds second-largest arms importer (after Saudi Arabia).In recent years, however, Taiwanese arms purchases have fallen off sharply, and new orders for arms fell to less than $2 billion over the past five years. China, meanwhile, has continued to aggressively buy foreign arms, and Beijings decade-long effort to reequip the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) with more advanced armaments is beginning to erode Taiwans long-standing qualitative edge in military equipment. Consequently, there is growing concern that the military balance across the Taiwan Straitonce strongly favoring Taiwanis tilting in favor of China. The Bush administration in 2001 attempted to help remedy this growing imbalance by offering Taiwan a wide range of advanced conventional weapons, in particular, diesel-electric submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, and missile defenses. Taipei has so far not acted on most of these arms offers. Taiwans declining defense budget has greatly impeded new arms purchases. Taipei recently announced it would request a ten-year, $15 billion special appropriations budget to fund many of these new arms programs. However, this budget must first be approved by Taiwans parliament, and even then it would be several years before any of these weapons could be operationally deployed. Taiwans declining defense budget has greatly impeded new arms purchases. Taipei recently announced it would request a ten-year, $15 billion special appropriations budget to fund many of these new arms programs. However, this budget must first be approved by Taiwans parliament, and even then it would be several years before any of these weapons could be operationally deployed. Domestic pressures to aid Taiwans ailing defense industry are also delaying critical arms procurement decisions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- AD1032661
Entities
People
- Richard A. Bitzinger
Organizations
- Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies