The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that it would counter-sign the "Ordinance on Strengthening National Defense Independence and Development of the Unmanned Vehicle Industry" that was read on August 27 by the Legislative Yuan. Executive President Zhuo Rongtai said in an interview in Chiayi City yesterday, "It is very regrettable to give A to B." However, based on the fact that industrial development cannot wait, national defense independence cannot wait. Under the principles of not violating the constitution, not breaking the law, not undermining the separation of powers, and not undermining fiscal discipline, the Executive Yuan has countersigned and is waiting for the presidential announcement.
Political Yuan: We will insist on guarding budget power and state secrets
Zhuo Yongtai also emphasized that regarding the third reading of the regulations, the Executive Yuan will adhere to two principles. The first is that budget power cannot be destroyed by the separation of powers, and the second is that state secrets must be fully protected. Based on the principle that industry cannot wait, nor can national defense and security wait, we hope to gain the support of the people and the Legislative Yuan to pass the budget as soon as possible.
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Executive Yuan Secretary-General Zhang Dunhan also said that Zhuo Kui has countersigned the bill. However, the doubts of all sectors of society about this bill will not disappear just because of countersigning. Therefore, the ruling team will still adhere to the "two insistences". The first is to adhere to the budget power of the Executive Yuan. Although Article 4 of the bill stipulates the principle of budget quota, it does not set an upper limit. Therefore, the Executive Yuan will adhere to the budget power under the constitutional system and verify the budget preparation in accordance with the construction of national defense combat capabilities and actual industry needs.
Zhang Dunhan then pointed out that the second is to insist that national secrets must be protected with the strictest protection. The main responsible agency for national defense matters is the Ministry of National Defense, and the "Strategic Special Committee" is handled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Therefore, the future committee will take industrial development as its main axis, and those that should be determined by the national defense profession will return to the national defense profession. Especially matters involving national secrets, military deployment, information and supply chain security, the governing team must use the strictest standards to control them.
Zhuo Yongtai pointed out yesterday that the Executive Yuan sent a draft of the "Special Regulations on the Procurement of Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles for National Defense" on June 18 this year, hoping to engage in independent national defense procurement projects through long-term, stable, large-scale, long-term contracts with international industry cooperation. What the Executive Yuan wanted was a special regulation. Unfortunately, the Legislative Yuan passed a non-special regulation based on annual budgets.
Zhuo Yongtai said that, judging from the content of the entire passed regulations, the Ministry of Economic Affairs takes the lead in industrial development, and the Ministry of National Defense takes the lead in military procurement and various defense industry needs. The 240 billion yuan mentioned in the regulations will be implemented in six years, which is regarded as a principle and can be increased by the Executive Yuan based on the actual needs. It should be classified as a recommendation. These two points do not seem to be unconstitutional or illegal.
Zhuo Rongtai said that in the future, a supplementary budget bill including 55.9 billion yuan will be proposed. This is already included in the regulations and the spirit is consistent. He hopes that the Legislative Yuan can review and pass it as soon as possible.
