Lawmaker criticizes drone bill, calls economic ministry's role 'absurd'

Taiwan's legislature has passed a controversial version of the "Enhancing National Defense Autonomy and Drone Industry Development Act," spearheaded by the Kuomintang (KMT) party. This move bypasses the government's proposed legislation, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters, including writer Jaw Shaw-kong.

Jaw Shaw-kong argues that the bill, which allocates NT$240 billion over six years, is fundamentally flawed due to its structure. She points to the designation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs as the primary authority for drone development and procurement, rather than the Ministry of National Defense. This, she contends, creates an "absurd" system where economic interests might supersede military necessity.

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The logic of the Ministry of National Defense is to prioritize survival on the battlefield, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and defeating the enemy. But the logic of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is to prioritize supporting domestic manufacturers, creating GDP, and industrial transformation.

"The logic of the Ministry of National Defense is to prioritize survival on the battlefield, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and defeating the enemy," Jaw explained. "But the logic of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is to prioritize supporting domestic manufacturers, creating GDP, and industrial transformation." She fears this could lead to the military accepting substandard equipment that fails to counter threats like strong electromagnetic interference from China, ultimately endangering frontline soldiers.

Furthermore, the bill's mandate to establish a "National Drone Strategy Special Committee," with experts recommended by political parties, raises concerns about national security and potential leaks of sensitive military information. Jaw also criticizes the shift from a special budget to an annual allocation, fearing it could divert funds from crucial areas like ammunition, spare parts, and maintenance for existing military hardware. She concludes that while developing drones is a necessary step, placing economic affairs and political parties in charge of defense procurement is a "highly dangerous institutional arrangement" that jeopardizes national security and the lives of soldiers.

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The world's democratic countries rarely have such a chaotic system where 'elected representatives command the military' and 'the Ministry of Economic Affairs leads the military buildup.'