Taiwan’s Security: Beyond the Special Budget
on March 27, 2006
Dr. Chang Ya-chung is a professor of political science at the prestigious National Taiwan University who carries a powerful message: America has lost touch with popular sentiment on Taiwan. Professor Chang leads a growing movement called the Democratic Action Alliance (DAA, minzhu xingdong lianmeng) that has been dead-set against appropriating a $15-billion special budget for the procurement of three major weapon systems from the United States. For Chang, the debate over the use of a special budget or increased annual budget to fund weapons is irrelevant. He opposes any increase in defense spending in light of more pressing domestic needs. Though Chang may be an outlier in Taiwan’s defense policy circles, his influence illustrates the profound debate that America’s offer of a large package of weaponry sparked over the island’s national security.