Focus on building asymmetric combat capability: TPPBy Hung Ching-hsuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe government should prioritize use of its fiscal 2023 national defense budget — estimated at NT$586.3 billion (US$18.98 billion) — on building the military’s asymmetric combat capabilities and procuring more and better equipment, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucus said yesterday. Despite racking up NT$1.7 trillion in expenditures for purchasing weapons, more than 70 percent of the military’s equipment is antiquated, he said. Taiwan People’s Party legislators Jang Chyi-lu, center left, and Chiu Chen-yuan, center right, hold a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense should review its arms purchases and see if they align with the military’s aims, Chiu said. President Tsai Ing-wen, center, tours the Army Center of Ordinance Preparation and Development during an inspection of the military’s modernization efforts in Nantou County’s Jiji Township yesterday.

Source: Taipei Times September 13, 2022 23:31 UTC