Taiwan and the US have signed an agreement on the provision of maintenance and repair services and limited technology transfers for the nation’s US-made land-based phased-array radar system, a source said on Sunday last week.
The second-phase sustainment contract for the AN/FPS-115 radar system is to cost about NT$11 billion (US$376.3 million) over the next four years, the source said.
The radar installation, which was commissioned in 2012 and installed in Hsinchu County, has a maximum range of 5,000km and the capability to detect, track and analyze missile launches, including those deep in Chinese territory, the source said, adding that it is the nation’s longest-range early-warning system, making it an invaluable asset.
The facility is one of the most heavily guarded locations in the nation, and China would likely attack it immediately if cross-strait hostilities broke out, the source said.
The system was procured from the US for a about NT$40 billion. First-phase maintenance services from 2012 to last year cost about NT$11 billion, the source said.
Prior to the first sustainment contract’s expiration in May last year, the government began negotiations with the US on acquiring the capability to perform more than basic maintenance for the system, the source said.
To ensure the continued operation of the system, the military in July last year signed an interim one-year maintenance contract as a placeholder for the second-phase contract, which had been delayed by technology transfer negotiations, the source said.
US officials have authorized the technology transfer to Taiwanese manufacturers so that certain maintenance, repair and supply tasks could be completed domestically, the source said.
The finalized agreement was signed by a delegation of military officials and the American Institute in Taiwan, the source said.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
IDENTITY SHIFT: Asked to choose to identify as either Taiwanese or Chinese, 83.3 percent of respondents chose Taiwanese, while 8.4 percent chose Chinese An overwhelming majority of Taiwanese, 71.5 percent, think that Taiwan should compete in international competitions under the name “Taiwan,” a Taiwan Brain Trust survey published yesterday showed. Referring to Taiwan’s victory last month at the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12, the survey results showed that 89.1 percent of respondents said that Taiwan’s exceptional performance in sporting competitions furthers national unity. Only 18.8 percent of respondents supported Taiwanese teams’ continued use of the name “Chinese Taipei” in international sporting competitions, the survey showed. Among Taiwan’s leading political parties, the name “Team Taiwan” was supported by 91.1 percent of self-identified Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters,
RSS