China News Service, Beijing, July 22 (by Lei Tong) The United States announced on July 9 the "Patriot III missile life extension case" with an amount of 620 million US dollars (about 18.2 billion Taiwan dollars, 4.32 billion yuan). The top military officials in Taiwan had no knowledge of the case and had not approved the case.
After the incident broke out, Taiwan’s defense department admitted on July 20 that the Air Force “did not follow the procedures”. In order to avoid such cases, it will discuss control measures in the future. The Air Force later stated that it would punish the Air Force’s “deputy commander” and the head of the “command” industry management.
Taiwan has a set of application systems for the purchase of the US military. It is first reviewed by the military "commander", the Taiwan defense department's "strategic planning department", and the "logistics deputy chief's office". Only after the authorities' "security meeting" and high-level officials have learned about it, the US side will initiate the procedure when the request is sent to the United States through the "Military Mission in the United States" through the Taiwan Defense Department's "Office of the Undersecretary of Intelligence."
If the subsequent equipment is maintained or supplemented, the relevant budget can be prepared through the "operation maintenance fee" mechanism that does not need to be submitted for approval, and the budget is approved by the Taiwan defense department, and then directly purchased after the Taiwan legislature deliberates. However, if the "operation maintenance fee" exceeds NT$1 billion, it must be reported to the defense department for review.
How can such a high amount of arms purchase be hidden? After the case happened, it was lightly exposed on the grounds of "failure to follow the procedure." No wonder Taiwanese politicians criticized the "screw loose."
However, after the US announced the "Love Three Life Extension" case, the Taiwan authorities' foreign affairs department and defense department immediately cooperated in issuing a press release expressing their gratitude to the United States. People can't help but wonder: The Taiwan authorities really don't know? Or is there an external force involved in the whole case?
Taiwan's military screws are loose, and there are various signs.
In early January of this year, a black Hawk helicopter crashed into the mountain by the Taiwan military, and 8 people were killed, including "Chief of Staff" Shen Yiming, who was the highest-ranking officer in Taiwan's military history. On July 22, the supervision agency of the authorities found that the head of the Air Force Meteorological Department had breached the Black Hawk crash and filed for impeachment.
Regardless of the death of the "Chief of Staff" or the astronomical "Oolong Military Purchase", serious problems have arisen on behalf of the Taiwan military.
Returning to the "Patriot III Missile Life Extension Case", the case shows that there is a problem with the horizontal connection between the "military order" of the defense department and the "military and political" system, and the mentality of "acting cheaply" still exists in the military.
Of course, there are also analysts who believe that due to the improvement of the performance of the Patriot 2 air defense missile and the procurement of the Patriot 3 air defense missile, the "fast front project" will be closed in 2021 and the balance will be handed in. Taiwan’s military may, under pressure from the United States, use the gray area of the system to "securely hold back its warehouses." After the United States announces its approval, Taiwan has to "take it hard."
From the perspective of the United States, even if it knows that this arms purchase case has not been approved by the high-level Taiwan military, it is still happy to move forward.
After Trump took office, he has sold arms to Taiwan seven times. In 2019 alone, he has sold US$10.72 billion in arms to Taiwan, using Taiwan as a bargaining chip against the mainland.
But what about Taiwan? Although the equipment purchased has always been a weapon of low value for the US military or is about to be phased out, Taiwan still enjoys it. The most important reason is its symbolic meaning, that is, it seeks US "protection." In other words, the so-called "security" is exchanged for "expert military purchase". I really have to sigh: How many military purchases fake your name?
Faced with doubts, the Taiwan military denied this.
If Taiwan had no intention to purchase, it should explain to the US and cancel this arms purchase. However, the Tsai authorities dare to say "no" to the United States? Since Tsai Ing-wen came to power, Taiwan has been kidnapped by him on a U.S. chariot against mainland China. It is willing to act as a "pawn" in the anti-central front, and has no capital and courage to reject any request from the United States.
It seems that in this "Oolong arms purchase", regardless of system loopholes or "conspiracy theories," the Cai authorities have no other choice but to "snatch". (Finish)