Taipei: A member of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has filed a complaint with prosecutors, alleging that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) improperly awarded a NT$205.2 million (US$6.54 million) contract for ammunition primers to a shoe company based in Tainan. Taoyuan City Councilor Ling Tao accused the MND and its procurement personnel of misconduct in handling the 2024 tender for 5.56 mm ammunition primers.
According to Focus Taiwan, the contract was awarded to Big Stone International Co., a company primarily involved in the sale of sneakers and leather shoes. Ling pointed out that the company amended its business registration in June 2024 to include “ammunition primers” just 41 days before securing the tender on July 17, 2024. He suggested that this process might have breached the Anti-Corruption Act and Article 131 of the Criminal Code regarding the bribery of public officials.
The MND refuted Ling’s claims, stating that Big Stone delivered the ammunition primers ahead of schedule in March 2025 and the military accepted the goods. Big Stone also rejected the allegations, asserting compliance with the Government Procurement Act during the bidding process. The company plans to sue Ling for alleged defamation.
This controversy follows another instance where KMT questioned the qualifications of a tender winner. KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei previously raised concerns about Tainan-based Home-Max Furniture Trading Ltd. winning a tender to import RDX explosives. Wang doubted the eligibility of a furniture trading company in handling such contracts. Home-Max defended its position, citing its status as a qualified international trading company with exclusive agency rights to import RDX from the United States.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo has defended the tender processes, emphasizing that any qualified international trading company can bid, provided they meet requirements such as presenting an export permit and manufacturer documentation. Koo reiterated this stance following the accusations from KMT legislators.