Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung spoke to the media today before appearing at the Legislative Yuan for questioning. Addressing public concerns over proposed drone legislation, tender inspection and acceptance procedures, and the outsourcing of security duties at military academies, Minister Koo provided clarification and reiterated that the Ministry of National Defense has remained consistent in formulating procurement plans based on operational requirements. He expressed hope that lawmakers across party lines would pass the Executive Yuan’s proposed drone procurement legislation to meet Taiwan’s urgent defense needs and build up its unmanned systems capabilities.
Responding to a legislator’s allegations of irregularities involving an Army drone procurement project, Minister Koo stated that the allegations were entirely unfounded. Minister Koo explained that two separate cases may have been conflated. One commissioned project was terminated in 2023, while the current public procurement project was awarded through an open tendering process. Delivery inspections and two rounds of reinspection were conducted in accordance with the contract. As the contractor failed to pass the required inspections, the Ministry imposed contractual penalties, confiscated the performance bond, and terminated the contract in accordance with the law and the terms of the contract. No payment under the contract will be made.
Regarding concerns over the use of private security personnel for guard duties at military academies, Minister Koo stressed that military academies should not be confused with military installations. Drawing on practices adopted by military academies overseas, the Armed Forces have assigned private security personnel to handle access control and general security at military schools. Protection involving core military missions or strategically important locations remains the responsibility of professional military personnel. These duties are fundamentally different in nature, and the arrangement ensures the overall security of military installations.