The ROC Airforce Marshal speaks out on (against) the infamous arms procurement

Usually, one can only speak one's own mind when there is no other constraint or conflict of interests, e.g. serving in the governemnt. The Taiwan (ROC) Airforce Marshal Lee Kui-yong did exactly that when he retired from his position.

The government's view (whether DPP or KMT) has always been supportive of the "arms procurement", despite the obvious logical flaw and the over-price of the deal, for pleasing a strategic ally (or in Lee Teng-hui word, paying for protection fee).

Marshal Lee's view is in line of what I disucussed years ago.

• submarines are useless in Taiwan Strait
• PAC is not practical because there are too many missiles that the mainland can produced much cheaply

He added that even the F-16 is too costly and makes not much sense (which I would also agree). He suggests developing (electronic) interfering technology, which does make a lot of sense.

I have to believe that marshal Lee must have told Chen Shui-bian about. I can even be convinced that Mr Chen Shui-bian agreed with him and his secret plan (which I postulated before and now seems supported) is to leave this dirty mess to MYJ.

On strategy, he tactfully disagreed with the "proactive defense" doctrine, by saying that it might apply for powers such as the US, but for Taiwan, perhaps the best way to defend is just simply defense (i.e., not attack) -- something quite straighforward, but often got muddled by some wisers.

Of course, this draws categorical denial/disagreement from the KMT government in public, and maybe on in public.

---


前空軍作戰司令反對軍購　國防部：個人發言

* 2008-07-21
* 今日晚報
* 【中時電子報戴志揚／台北報導】

才剛退役的前空軍作戰司令李貴榮日前向國防部長陳肇敏上了一份「國防興革」萬言書，直言台灣不應該向美購買Ｆ－１６戰機，萬言書中甚至對於國軍積極建構的「博勝案」、購買「愛國者飛彈及潛艦」等都闡明反對立場。國防部軍事發言人池玉蘭今（二十一日）天表示，國防部部對於各方關切建軍備戰的意見與期許，均表示尊重與感謝。相關建言若符合本部政策者，將予採納，若與現階段政策不符者，將列入參考。池玉蘭強調，李貴榮的發言純屬他自己個人意見，並不代表國防部立場。

對於高達千億元台幣的Ｆ－１６採購案，李貴榮表示應該用於機場修復功能與基礎建設，而不是在「戰力保存」的戰略架構下，在台灣有限的飛行員與訓練空域下採購大量戰機，造成訓練及維護花費成本過高，排擠其餘軍種武器採購。

對於國軍以大筆預算建構多年，聯合三軍作戰指揮管制通訊的「博勝案」，李建榮也直言，這是美軍以自身經驗，在「攻勢作戰」下的產物。台灣目前都是採取「守勢作戰」，因此套用美軍的思維模式並不適用。

李貴榮也表示，愛國者飛彈只要性能提升就可達到目的，因為即使購買再多數目的愛國者飛彈，還是比不上中共導彈的增加數目。另外台灣海峽根本不適宜潛艦作戰，如果購買後無法發揮其最大效用，根本毫無意義。應該將經費用於研發飛彈干擾技術以及各型反制飛彈，這才是實際的作為。

針對李貴榮對於軍購案上的萬言書，國防部強調，目前對於軍購案，美方至今尚未通知對我暫停重大軍購案。我國對美國軍購的政策目前並無任何改變，更不會因為兩岸關係和緩而改變自我防衛之堅定決心，只要依法完成建案程序，並經立法院完成審議之各項軍購案及執行中之軍購個案，國防部還是持續積極推動。

國防部強調，目前政府已透過各種管道，強烈表達軍購意願，並促請美方儘早對我供售防衛性武器。