Philip Bowing in IHT on Weapons Purchase

A more robust analysis than some, although still not grasping the KMT position yet.

Behind this conflict lie various strands of opinion unfavorable to arms spending. The Kuomintang-led opposition coalition has always supported reunification and now believes that, given developments on the mainland, it can be achieved freely and peacefully.

Beijing's current efforts to further cross-straits exchanges and economic integration have been strengthening this view and thus undermining the argument for arms purchases.

[Taiwan] [China]