Meet the New Military-Industrial Complex in Taiwan

Voice of America
Date: October 14, 2019
By: Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI – Taiwan set out nearly 50 years ago to grow its own defense industry because the island's leaders never know how many arms they can get from abroad. Taiwan seeks a strong defense to deter China, an old military adversary with the world's third strongest armed forces.

That industry is growing steadily now in line with goals established by the ruling party in 2014 and contributing to an economy long dependent on tech but facing pressure to diversify.

"Over the past few years President Tsai Ing-wen has been promoting a self-defense industry policy and that's a good thing," said Michael Tsai, chairman of the Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies in Taiwan.

2020 goal

The party's defense committee suggested in 2014 that to "revitalize" Taiwan's defense industry expenditures to domestic weapons production should reach at least 60% of military investments by 2020.    [FULL  STORY]