Taiwan 2007 military budget to increase sharply

FuManChu said:

Well I wouldn't consider that it would make sense, but I'm sure if the CCP felt that doing nothing was to invite its own demise I think it would try anything.

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I think you read too much of "Bear and Dragon."

FuManChu said:

How does "buying" support from the US help Taiwan? The US isn't going to change its diplomatic recognition or anything. It might make it a bit more likely to help Taiwan out in case of war, but if China is not a threat why would it do that?

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I didn't say it would help Taiwan. What I said is that it would help Chen Shuibian. You need to learn more about the political dynamics in Taiwan. Uncle Sam is the big daddy of the Taiwanese leadership. Chen is under heavy protest right now to resign from presidency. He knows that if the American government doesn't say anything, he can stay in power no matter now much protest is going on. That's exactly what his budget proposal is trying to do, buying support from America.

oringo said:

I think you read too much of "Bear and Dragon."

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Que?

I didn't say it would help Taiwan. What I said is that it would help Chen Shuibian....

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Although criticism from the US wouldn't help him, I can't see as how it would want him to go prematurely if he didn't buy it. That would just disrupt and undermine Taiwan's democratic system, undermining its future stability.

The US wants change of government to happen through elections, not politicians trying to use their political clout to force people out of office for no reason other than political ambition. The latter would obviously be against their interests.

Anyhoo, we will just have to agree to disagree on that point, as you obviously feel differently.

The increase in military budget is not just for new arms. There's also the matter of inflation and needed increase in salary/pay, benefits, new/replacement facilities, etc. The ROC government gave a 3% raise in 2001 and 2005, but has said that there won't be a raise in 2006-2007.

The ROC military hopes to have 60% volunteer + 40% conscripted force by 2008. The expected monthly salary for a volunteer is around $35,000 NT, less for conscripts. For comparison purpose, 35,000 NT is slightly more than what a Taxi driver in Taipei makes in a month on average.

The shift from conscript to volunteer force will cause a rise in salary/pay requirements, plus benefits, pension, retirement $, etc. I have a few family members who were career military in ROC Army until retirement. One of their benefit packages include government-subsidized savings account with 18% interest rate. In comparison bank CD deposits rarely pays over 6%. That's one heck of an expensive subsidy for the ROC government.