Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Taiwan shines in anti-graft index

Hsu Jen-hui 徐仁輝

Transparency International on Thursday last week released its global Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index. Taiwan shone among the 85 countries considered in the report, as it was awarded 70 credits, far exceeding the average score of 30. Taiwan ranked sixth, sharing the spot with Germany.

The index grouped the assessed country in six bands, ranging from A — very low corruption risk — to band F — critical corruption risk.

German mention of ‘Taiwan’ lauded

Taipei Times

A German flag flutters in front of the Reichstag Building in Berlin on Oct. 19.
Photo: AFP

Use of the phrase “democratic Taiwan” by Germany’s new coalition government in official document shows that Taiwan-China issues are not about “independence” against “unification,” but about democracy against authoritarianism, Representative to Germany Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) said yesterday.

Ending national defense corruption

Taipei Times Editorial

With a bill passed on Tuesday, the government is now authorized to draft a budget of up to NT$240 billion (US$8.64 billion) for arms procurements over the next five years. This would include mostly indigenous weapons to upgrade existing anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.

The news is welcome, not just for what it says about Taiwan’s ability to defend itself, but because it creates the perception that it is taking its defense seriously and not just relying on promises of assistance from allies, predominantly the US.

Arms procurement budget bill passes

Taipei Times

Chi Yang-class frigate Ning Yang fires a Harpoon anti-ship missile during joint-service live fire exercises on July 15 last year.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense via CNA

The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a bill authorizing the government to draft a special budget of up to NT$240 billion (US$8.63 billion) for arms procurements over the next five years.

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