2024/11/18
MND Issues Statement in Response to Media Reports Regarding Purchase of Over NTD700 Billion in US Arms With 2025 Budget
MND News Report
Date: 14:30, November 18, 2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has issued the following statement in response to media reports regarding its purchase of over NTD700 billion in US arms with its 2025 budget:
I. The NTD716.6 billion arms sale will be carried out from 2007 to 2031, and includes the purchase of 20 types of weapons (including MANPADS) and the commercial purchase of a radar upgrade. Approximately NTD373.1 billion has been paid, with around NTD343.5 billion remaining. Payments will be carried out according to the agreed terms. The allocated budget for 2025 is approximately NTD70.6 billion.
II. The MND has taken into account experiences from the Russian-Ukrainian War and the Gaza–Israel Conflict to purchase the arms that it requires. Despite the pandemic causing delays in the delivery of several weapons, delivery was accelerated once production recovered after the pandemic.
III. The ROC military is currently prioritizing the development of asymmetrical warfare capabilities, reserve forces, defense resilience, and the ability to effectively counter grey zone incursions. The ROC military will compile an adequate budget based on the MND’s annual finances, the progress of arms sales, and the delivery schedule. This includes long-term plans such as the Five-year Force Buildup Plan, which needs to consider national security, among other factors, and is included in the classified budget and other security measures. Therefore, media claims that the MND has not had a strategic foresight plan for the past three years are untrue.