tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post112797895811335275..comments2024-03-01T16:32:41.076+08:00Comments on Sun Bin: Taiwan's Defense Option (ii): Arms Procurement "Accounting"Sun Binhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093210384069958083noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1146465458735710102006-05-01T16:37:00.000+10:002006-05-01T16:37:00.000+10:00"I think the motivation is probably simpler, just ..."I think the motivation is probably simpler, just money. It is not US strategy, but arms dealer lobbying. the Bush govt probably believe Taiwan's own defense is weak with or without the arms deal such that it makes no difference in a conflict, why not squeeze them some $."<BR/><BR/>US can make and save even more money without Taiwan. Do people in Taiwan ever think of that? Taiwan is just a problem child at US's side. All of troops station in Japan and in Korea are not free. That's US money for South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan's lazy ass security.<BR/><BR/>Put the downpayment on the table, and Taiwan can negotiate the rest. No one in US is going to pull their necks out if Taiwan show no commitment with this at all. Even Bush understand the importance of this deal passing though, he'll make sure all against it like Navy would be straighten out.<BR/><BR/>ROC military men (Hua Ren) have backstab us (Tai Wan Ren) before with the Bubble Tea for Arms bullcrap. I can even make a better commerical than that blindfolded. That commercial is their way of spit at our archivement for creating new way of drinking tea. <BR/><BR/>It's also make sure people in Taiwan would not support it because of that bad taste in our mouth. At the same time, they get to blame this on CSB and looked as if they try their best to convince us with their full effort.<BR/><BR/>Most of the ROC military men (Hua Ren) support pan-blue party in Taiwan, the very people that are blocking Taiwan Arms Procurement process. For them, this is just a game they play on Taiwanese people until their party will return to power one day. To do that, they have to do whatever it takes to make sure Taiwan's economy is weak and our military is soft.<BR/><BR/>Iron_Jackal_TWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1129304697193956022005-10-15T00:44:00.000+09:002005-10-15T00:44:00.000+09:00I think the motivation is probably simpler, just m...I think the motivation is probably simpler, just money. It is not US strategy, but arms dealer lobbying. the Bush govt probably believe Taiwan's own defense is weak with or without the arms deal such that it makes no difference in a conflict, why not squeeze them some $.<BR/><BR/>Poor A-bian has no choice. He could not afford to anger the congressmen or the adminstration in US.<BR/><BR/>The arms deal is just a sub-optimal choice compared to alternative use of the same amount of fund. I don't think A-bian wants to weaken the defense on purpose. Because, there is no guarantee US would intervene.Sun Binhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08093210384069958083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1129286882748057032005-10-14T19:48:00.000+09:002005-10-14T19:48:00.000+09:00The arms purchase is crowding out weapons and trai...The arms purchase is crowding out weapons and training Taiwan needs for weapons that are insufficient (Patriots), dependent upon assumptions that will not work out (the antisub aircraft require that Taiwan control the air, or are useless (submarines). The real question is whether this is US strategy to provoke a war by making Taiwan weak, or whether the US is simply being stupid.<BR/><BR/>....which then takes us to the next question: is A-bian going along with this because he knows it is weakening Taiwan and will provoke a war, to bring the US in and make the island independent?Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1129286692065795982005-10-14T19:44:00.000+09:002005-10-14T19:44:00.000+09:00Awesome post, Sun Bin. I too wondered about the Pa...Awesome post, Sun Bin. I too wondered about the Patriots, as the Chinese can easily swamp them. Ironically, they are the most effective weapon in the package. The Orions are worthless unless Taiwan controls the air (that's won't happen) and the subs are just stupid.<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1128022933125917502005-09-30T04:42:00.000+09:002005-09-30T04:42:00.000+09:00Regarding Li Jye's speech. Li Jye was making a gen...Regarding Li Jye's speech. Li Jye was making a generic appeal to pan-Blue legislators and asking them to consider his position. (note many pan-Blue voters are in the military background and could be sympathetic with him). <BR/><BR/>I think that is the writer's reading into his lines, but the wording were translated pretty faithfully. It is a very reasonable comment if you put yourself into Li Jye's shoes. you are asked to slash your budget by avg NT$27bn/yr (in fact, more likely 40-50bn in the beginning years), out of a total budget of about $300bn. that is a more than 10% cut. Chen promised a raise in budget in future, but it cannot impact the current year, and it is very unclear whether that would realize, esp given Chen's other priorities and the potential for pan-Blue blocking again.Sun Binhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08093210384069958083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13378665.post-1128014239073046832005-09-30T02:17:00.000+09:002005-09-30T02:17:00.000+09:00thanks for the comment.1. except that blogspot is ...thanks for the comment.<BR/><BR/>1. except that blogspot is from a journalist and the presentation in Taiwan media (pan-Green) tried to make such impression. <BR/><BR/>2. yes, i have suspected that was A-bien's objective as well. It makes good sense if one thinks in his shoes.Sun Binhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08093210384069958083noreply@blogger.com