Defense Minister Kao Kuang-chi says a recent security breach involving US-made Apache attack helicopters has not affected US arms sales to Taiwan. Kao was speaking at the legislature on Thursday.
Kao told the legislature that the defense ministry is taking the security breach seriously. A number of senior military officers including the chief of the general staff and the army commander were disciplined over the security breach.
Taiwan acquired 30 Apache attack helicopters from the United States at a total price of US$1.9 billion. The model E is the latest in the helicopter series, and Taiwan is among the few countries that are using it so far.
It was recently revealed that in late March, Lieutenant Colonel Lao Nai-cheng, an Apache helicopter pilot, brought 26 civilians on an unauthorized tour of an army base where Apache attack helicopters are housed. Many of the visitors took photos of the cockpit, and one of them posted the photos online. It was later also found that the lieutenant colonel brought an Apache pilot helmet home and wore it as part of a Halloween costume at a private party.
A defense ministry official has echoed Kao’s comments, saying that the US is concerned about Taiwanese pilots’ morale but will not alter its policy of providing Taiwan with defensive weapons.