2023/07/07
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release to clarify media reports asking "why Taiwan should purchase 30mm ammunition from the United States when it is able to make it itself"
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: July 7, 2023 at 08:00
In response to media reports asking "why Taiwan should purchase 30mm ammunition from the United States when it is able to make it itself", the Ministry of National Defense (MND) explained today (7th) as follows:
1. Based on indigenous national defense, the Armament Bureau has completed shell development for the 30mm machine gun, which passed combat evaluations in 2022, and is considered to have achieved production capacity.
2. No. 205 Factory has worked with the land release planning of the Kaohsiung City Government to date, and the factory compound is currently under construction. As such, combat readiness needs for 2023 to 2025 have to be temporarily met by making purchases from abroad, but the mass-production of shells for 30mm machines will be under way by 2026. Therefore, media reports that "high ranking personnel from national security that the purchases be made from the United States" is inconsistent with the facts.
3. Shells for 30mm machine guns produced ourselves are considered an important achievement of indigenous national defense, and the MND calls on our nationals to continue rendering their support so we can demonstrate our determination for self-defense.