Taipei: A defense official warned Tuesday that if the Legislature insists on passing a budget plan proposed by the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) to buy American weapons systems, it would hamstring Taiwan's arms acquisition plans and have adverse consequences.
According to Focus Taiwan, the TPP caucus has objected to the government's NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.72 billion) special defense budget proposal and proposed a special provision to limit spending to NT$400 billion. This provision includes most of the major weapons systems already approved for sale to Taiwan by the United States. Unlike the government's version, the TPP's bill lists the maximum amounts that could be spent on each item Taiwan wishes to acquire.
The TPP's budget includes 60 M109A7 self-propelled howitzers with 4,080 rounds of precision munitions, capped at NT$126.7 billion, and 82 HIMARS multiple rocket missile systems, capped at NT$127.6 billion. It also covers anti-armor loitering munition systems, Javelin anti-armor missile launchers, and TOW 2B anti-armor missile launchers with specific spending caps.
However, several U.S. items approved for sale to Taiwan were omitted from the TPP bill, including tactical mission network software, AH-1W helicopter parts, and harpoon missile support. The government's special budget also includes plans for purchasing 200,000 drones and developing a T-Dome system for missile defense.
Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-chi, head of the Ministry of National Defense's Department of Strategic Planning, warned that the TPP bill would be challenging to implement due to the lack of matching funds for necessary infrastructure, such as maintenance facilities for the HIMARS system. Huang emphasized the potential damage to weapons if they are not properly stored and maintained.
Huang expressed concern about the ongoing stalemate in the Legislature, which could cause Taiwan to miss the opportunity to purchase these weapons. He noted that the U.S. has elevated Taiwan's foreign military sales status to "quasi-NATO member," shortening the response time for a letter of acceptance (LOA) from 45 days to 30 days.
The Cabinet's special defense budget proposal has been blocked by opposition lawmakers since its announcement by President Lai Ching-te on Nov. 26. They have demanded that President Lai first brief the Legislature and take lawmakers' questions, a request he has rejected. Huang warned that if the MND cannot sign the LOA, the arms sales package could be jeopardized.