【By Observer Net, Wang Shichun】According to a report by Taiwanese media on October 16, nearly nine months after President Trump returned to the White House, he has not yet announced a new arms sale to Taiwan. Regarding this, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, David Sacks, recently hinted that after Taiwan passed a special budget of 113.2 billion New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 0.22 Chinese Yuan per New Taiwan Dollar), it is expected to see the first batch of arms sales announced by Trump, and the U.S. side may proceed with it.

Ma Wenjun questioned the social media of the special budget for the military in the legislative body

Sacks, currently the chairman of the Indo-Pacific Security Institute, told a special interview with the Central News Agency that many things depend on whether Taiwan passes the special budget. If this budget is as large as described by Taiwanese officials, he believes the U.S. will support the approval of related arms sales.

He said that at present, the U.S. Department of Defense requires Taiwan's defense spending to reach 10 percent of GDP, but does not approve arms sales, "this indeed does not make sense." Therefore, he believes the U.S. is waiting for Taiwan to "truly put forward funds," that is, pass the special budget, before taking any action.

Regarding Lai Ching-te's recent boasting about the "Taiwan Shield," Sacks stated that Taiwan needs the ability to detect and track threats from high altitudes, including information from satellites, aircraft, and ground-based radars, as well as an integrated command system that can integrate data and optimize responses.

To detect and track aerial threats, including ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, both hardware and software are needed. He expects these systems will mainly come from the U.S. defense industry, including emerging technological capabilities, not just large defense companies, and some rising small and medium-sized defense technology companies must also cooperate with Taiwan.

Regarding the idea proposed by U.S. congressmen of co-producing weapons with Taiwan, Sacks pointed out that the United States is currently facing a shortage of military equipment, and enhancing the island's production capacity will help increase weapons that both sides can use. Stockpiling weapons in Taiwan would be very helpful for dealing with possible conflicts in the Taiwan Strait.

To stimulate the economy, increase military spending and provide tax refunds, the Taiwan administrative authorities passed the "Special Budget for Strengthening Economic, Social, and Civilian Defense Resilience in Response to International Situations" (referred to as the "special budget") on September 11, which allocated a total of 550 billion New Taiwan Dollars for the special budget, including 236 billion New Taiwan Dollars distributed to residents of Taiwan, and 113.2 billion New Taiwan Dollars for the defense department.

This money will be used to invest in the development of Taiwan's anti-missile capabilities. A few days ago, Lai Ching-te launched the concept of building the "Taiwan Shield" (T-Dome), promoting the construction of a so-called "most comprehensive air defense system," and plans to pass a new defense security special budget by the end of the year, intending to use the "special budget" to drive the development of defense and military industries.

The "special budget" has not been approved yet, but it has already sparked controversy.

Kuomintang legislator Ma Wenjun pointed out on the 9th that the 570 billion New Taiwan Dollars in the special budget compiled by the Taiwan authorities, the defense department alone took over more than 10 billion New Taiwan Dollars, but some project purposes are difficult to believe. From each chair costing 50,000 New Taiwan Dollars for senior officers to single bottles of combat water priced at 120 New Taiwan Dollars, people question whether "strengthening defense" has become "strengthening equipment." She clearly stated that the budget of 113.2 billion New Taiwan Dollars is not only huge in amount, but also involves multiple procurement projects unrelated to combat readiness, and the Taiwan defense department should give society a reasonable explanation.

This article is an exclusive article by the Observer, and without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7561764636631089714/

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