Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung spoke to the media at the Legislative Yuan this morning, taking questions on the recent budget unfreezing, the joint U.S.-Japan military exercise, and other issues.
Asked by the media about the budget funds that have yet to be unfrozen, Minister Koo explained that with regard to last year’s defense budget and special budget, the Ministry of National Defense will continue to seek the consent of the legislators who sponsored the freeze motions and is coordinating with Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee Convener Wang Yi-chuan to place the relevant unfreezing items on the committee’s agenda for November 4. He expressed hope that the motions would win the support of committee members so that the defense budget can be executed smoothly.
On the large-scale joint U.S.-Japan military exercise “Keen Sword 27” now under way, Minister Koo said that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific has become a strong consensus in the international community, which also regards it as a responsibility to be shared by all. Joint exercises and training by like-minded countries in the surrounding region demonstrate their resolve to safeguard regional peace and stability and deserve recognition, and he expressed hope that such exercises will proceed smoothly and successfully.