Taiwan's "Procedures Committee of the Legislative Yuan" vetoed Taiwan authority's special budget for arms purchase from the US and related regulations on Jan 18. This is the 16th time the budget has been rejected.

Drafted in June 2004, the 610.8 bln new Taiwan dollars budget for arm purchase from the US is the one with the largest amount ever in history of Taiwan. The Taiwan authority plans to raise the funds through land sales, transfer of stock and debts borrowing. But the plan has aroused strong dissatisfaction among the Taiwan public the day it was released. The nongovernmental organizations have founded "union for opposition of the arms purchase" to protest the authority's attempt to "turning Taiwan into an arsenal". Large protests were staged in Taipei, Gaoxing in June and Sept of 2004.

The army said they had preparation for the veto. At present they are revising the plan in a bid to cut the budget so that it will be endorsed next time.

The session of the "Legislative Yuan" will close on Jan 21, and the "Procedure Committee" meeting on Jan 18 is the last one during the session. Therefore the army's attempt to have the budget endorsed in this session of the "Legislative Yuan" has been completely overturned.

By People's Daily Online