Jeremy Chen
In recent years, Taiwan’s military procurement and indigenous defense development have encountered multiple challenges that significantly impact their implementation and effectiveness. These challenges span across various dimensions: such as local community resistance to military construction projects, escalating material and labor costs in an inflationary environment, intense media scrutiny of procurement processes, and the complex dynamics of military modernization objectives. This analysis examines how these interconnected challenges affect Taiwan’s defense capabilities, while also highlighting how democratic institutions both complicate and safeguard the procurement process.
The Intersection of Military Development and Local Interests: Balancing National Defense with Community Needs
Military construction is often a contentious issue for local communities, as it potentially disrupts local life and economic activity. Even when proposed military facilities have a minimal environmental impact, their establishment frequently triggers protests and petitions from residents. In Taiwan, several cases illustrate this dynamic. First, the Navy’s decision to construct a missile base within the existing military bases at Jiupeng (九鵬) in southwestern Taiwan faced delays due to conflicts with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law. Similarly, the planned Second Naval Harbor Project at Zouying (左營第二港口擴建工程) has encountered ongoing protests despite multiple public hearings, as local fishermen have worried about their livelihoods. In Taitung (台東), a proposed Air Force emergency runway project drew criticism from legislative representatives in local courts because it required the acquisition of productive farmland.
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