Potentially, This is not a bad discussion topic. Lots of interesting terminology, feel free to use it, if you have to.
From:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... budget.htm
The core policy of Taiwan's National Military Strategy is to avoid war, and to assure the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan must maintain an appropriate defense capability to guarantee the survival of the island as well as the security and prosperity of the people. Taiwan's major equipment acquisition policies are as follows: 1. Under the strategic directive of effective deterrence, robust defense, acquisitions must meet the basic requirements of major weapons and equipment for Taiwan's defense operations. 2. Acquisitions must be consistent with complete life-cycle management and integrated logistic planning. 3. Acquisitions must comply with technology transfers, or training packages and other software so that weapons and equipment can be used to their full effect.
In order for Taiwan to reach their goal of effective defense, important elements of their buildup and development include early warning, information & electronic warfare superiority, counter blockade capability, long-range precision, and force integration. In addition, a C4ISR system has also become a strategic objective, as it would enhance the combat power of the combined joint operations of the Taiwan armed forces. Taiwan is expected to build its national defense capability to emphasize quality and power over quantity by fielding a C4ISR system and by acquiring defensive weapons. The key to success in defending Taiwan is information superiority over the PRC. Information superiority is essential, because the characteristics of the PLA threat include synchronized, multi-faceted, surprise, and quick attacks. Information warfare is expected to be a prelude to an attack against Taiwan, and in order to counter the threats of the PLA, the Taiwan Armed Forces need to immediately take synchronized, and rapid defensive combat actions. From a C4ISR system point of view, information superiority is crucial to achieving victory in combat. In order to enhance Taiwan's defensive capability, Taiwan's Armed Forces need a more sophisticated CS4ISR system that would provide the quick response, long range, high precision, and robustness demanded by future combat situations.
As the Legislative Yuan (LY) assumes more control of the MND budget, procurement plans require more staffing and approvals are slow. This adds to the frustrations felt by the Taiwan military, U.S. defense contractors and the U.S. Military Departments. Even with the difficulties encountered, the U.S. will continue to support the Taiwan military with defensive military equipment, technology, training and assistance in the years to come.
The defense budget for the ROC military was reduced annually during the 1990s and became more and more open to public scrutiny. The downward trend in ROC military expenditures was especially evident in fiscal 1994, when the budget shrank 4.65 percent. The defense budget is becoming increasingly public. In fiscal 1996, only 36 percent of the budget was considered confidential, in comparison to 51 percent in fiscal 1993 and 46 percent in 1994, respectively. The defense budget for fiscal 1996 will occupy just under 23 percent of the total government budget, down from 24.5 percent of the previous year.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) had a budget of US $9.57 billion for Fiscal Year 1996, which began July 1, 1995, a 2 percent increase over the previous year's budget. The national defense budget accounted for 23 percent of the total budget of the central authorities, a slight reduction from its 24.5 percent share of the total FY 95 budget. US $3.4 billion or 35.5 percent, of that budget was reportedly spent on military investment. Defense spending' as a percentage of Taiwan's GDP has been steadily decreasing over the past several years. The national defense budget for FY 1996 represented 3.6 percent of Taiwan's overall GDP.
Taiwan's National Defense budget amounted to New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) 274.78 billion or approximately USD 9.46 billion, for fiscal year 1998. The National Defense Budget accounted for 22.43 percent of the total budget of the Central Authorities, a 0.08 percent reduction from its 22.51 percent share of the total FY 97 budget. Defense spending's share of Taiwan's GDP has been steadily decreasing over the past several years. The National Defense Budget for FY 1998 represented 3.26 percent of Taiwan's overall GDP.
The national defense budget for FY 1999 amounted to NTD 284.5 billion (approx. USD 8.89 billion), or 22.7 percent of the total budget of the Central Authorities. The National Defense Budget for FY 1999 is projected to account for 3.06 percent of Taiwan's overall GDP. The budget for weapons purchases reportedly is NTD 60 billion (about USD 1.88 billion).
It has been projected that Taiwan will spend in excess of NT$700 billion (US$20.68 billion) for 11 items as a part of its arms-procurement spending from 2003 through 2012. While the U.S. supplies the bulk of Taiwan arms purchases, and will continue to do so in the years to come, Taiwan's indigenous capabilities have gradually expanded, with a majority of the building taking place with the United States' assistance. To fulfill current customers' needs, total services and commercial logistic support to maintain or upgrade Taiwan's existing defense force are required. In the near future, the most urgent defense requirements are the integration tasks between current platforms and weapons within and among Taiwan's armed forces. However, the Taiwan defense industry's long-range plans include integrated battlefield management and C4ISR upgrades.
On the horizon, and as a matter of public record, are the intended purchases of four Kidd-class destroyers, 12 P-3C Orion submarine-hunting aircraft, nine CH-47SD Chinook transport helicopters, eight conventional submarines, a batch of new Tienkung-series air defense missiles, a dozen MH-53H mine sweeping helicopters, Paladin artillery system, AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicles, 30 AH-64D Apache helicopters, Patriot anti-missile systems, additional missiles, torpedoes, aircraft survivability equipment, two long-range early warning radars, three air traffic control radar sets, and electronic warfare systems.
On 02 June 2004 the Executive Yuan approved the Defense Ministry's special budget allocations for major military procurement programs worth a total of NT$610.8 billion (about US$18.23 billion). The money to finance the special budget will come from NT$94 billion through the release of shares of state-owned enterprises, NT$100 billion from the selling of state-owned land, and the raising of the national debt of NT$420 billion. The proposed budget would cover six sets of Patriot Advanced Capability III anti-missile systems, eight conventional submarines and 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft.
I am not abandoning Yoyo, I am just dancing slowly away from it.