NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY WANTS WEAPONS ON TAIPING ISLAND|因應南海情勢 軍方建議海巡強化火力

The National Defense Ministry has proposed the Coast Guard purchase new domestically produced weapons to strengthen Taiwan's defense capability of Taiping Island. Some analysts believe this will help Taiwan make its voice heard on the South China Sea issue, so they call on the government to increase the Coast Guard's budget to show its dedication to protect Taiwan's sovereignty. As various countries continue to build up their military strength in the South China Sea, sources said that the military is proposing the deployment of new domestically produced weapons on Taiping Island, such as rocket missile systems, anti-tank rockets, and drones. However, the Coast Guard's limited budget may render these weapons out of reach. ==CHIANG CHEN-CHUNG Dep. Chief of Staff, Warfare and Planning Office, MND== Our proposals are to strengthen firepower without adding manpower. ==KONG KUANG-YU Dep. Minister, Coast Guard Administration== As for procuring weapons, this will involve budgeting and our requirements, so an overall plan is needed. Military analysts say that Taiwan's military strength on Taiping Island has remained unchanged since World War II, which is insufficient compared to other islands in the South China Sea. ==CHIEH CHUNG Sen. Asst. Researcher, Nat'l. Policy Foundation== Taiping Island is over 1,600 kilometers away. If supplies are sent there only after a situation has arisen, it could be too late. So we at least need some basic anti-aircraft and anti-artillery strength on the island. International relations scholars say that, as many countries expand their weapon arsenals and land area in the South China Sea, Taiwan's voice will be left unheard if it continues to limit itself. ==LIU FU-KUO CEO Taiwan Center for Security Studies, NCCU== Of course, for a long time we have not said or done enough in terms of our sovereignty claims on Taiping Island or the South China Sea. So now southeast Asian countries think that they only need to deal with China on the issue. It's as if Taiwan has already given up. We must let them see our determination to protect our territory and sovereignty. This is the most important thing. Academics also say that the Coast Guard does not have enough funding to upgrade the weapons on Taiping Island, and that the government must increase the Coast Guard Administration's budget to solve the problem. Translated by JOHN CHEN 因應中國及越南菲律賓等國不斷在南海島嶼擴充軍力，軍方建議駐守太平島的海巡署，採購國造新武器強化戰力，學者認為這有助我國在太平島的防衛、與南海議題的發語權，不過學者們也都認為，海巡署預算很有限，根本買不起武器，政府應該要增加預算，展現保衛南海主權的決心。 南海各國持續增加軍力，傳出軍方建議配置國造新型武器提升太平島戰力，像是「鋼鏾火箭彈系統」、新式「紅隼」反裝甲火箭、以及無人機。不過目前駐守太平島的海巡署預算有限，恐怕無力負擔。 ==國防部作計室次長 姜振中== 我們提出來都是增強火力 不增強人力的這個作為 ==海巡署副署長 龔光宇== 購買武器的話 牽涉到預算及牽涉到需求 所以我們會做整體的規劃 有軍事戰略學者分析我國太平島的戰力，只有二次世界大戰時期的40快砲與120迫擊砲，和其他南海各國島嶼比起來實在不足，的確應該補強。 ==國家政策研究基金會高級助理研究員 揭仲== 太平島離我們一千六百多公里 你說在有狀況的時候 再把東西送過去 恐怕有時候緩不濟急 所以我們在上面最起碼 在防空跟反砲戰方面 應該要有一個基本的實力 也有國際關係學者認為在各國都擴張南海島嶼土地與武器配備，如果再自我設限將限縮我國在南海議題的發聲權。 ==政大台灣安全研究中心執行長 劉復國== 當然長久以來我們在這個 太平島或者是南海的主權主張 我們一方面 說的太少 再方面 做的更少 那讓這個東南亞 這些國家認為說 南海的問題就找中國大陸 我們台灣基本上是 有點類似要放棄的那種味道 我們就應該要讓他們也知道說 鞏固我們領土主權的決心 這才是更重要的事情 學者們也都認為海巡署預算太少，根本無法更新太平島上的武器，政府應該思考提高海巡署預算才能解決相關問題。 記者 張志雄 應磊奇 台北報導