proposals

Military experts and DPP lawmakers are calling for the legislature to examine
special defense budget proposals in a non-partisan and objective manner.

The comments come as the legislative committee on national defense and
foreign affairs was originally scheduled to review different versions of the
proposal today.

Chair of the Veterans Affairs Council Yan De Fa 嚴德發said that ensuring
peace requires strength, and he encouraged all lawmakers to support the
executive yuan's version of the proposal.

Yan, who is a former Defense Minister, also noted that China's military
spending is currently 11 times that of Taiwan.

Meanwhile DPP Lawmaker Chen Guan Ting 陳冠廷, who heads the committee, said
earlier he hoped to see KMT lawmakers at the session...

but they ultimately did not show up.

Chen thus ruled that negotiations would take place at a later date.

Chen this morning noted that the KMT caucus had earlier requested to postpone
the meeting until next week...

but some have questioned whether the delay is related to KMT Chair Cheng
Li-wun’s current visit to China.

(AH)