Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) U.S. government "is taking a break" over Taiwan arms procurement as the arms bill has become "a political football game" between Taiwan's government and the opposition, former Chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Therese Shaheen said on the sideline of a topical lecture Friday.
"They [U.S. government] are not pushing it right now because they know it doesn't do anybody any good, " Shaheen told the media before delivering a topical lecture titled "Why Taiwan Matters, " organized by the Graduate Institute of American Studies of Tamkang University.
Shaheen, who is on a four-day visit to Taiwan, met President Chen Shui-bian and Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-Pyng after her arrival. She said she didn't talk about the arms procurement with Chen but did have a brief exchange with Wang when he brought up the topic.
During the question-and-answer session, Shaheen said the first priority between Taiwan and the U.S. military system, in her opinion, would be the military communication system so that both sides can communicate and react more efficiently in certain situations.
A number of opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers mentioned last December it would be acceptable for the country's annual military budget to be increased to 3 percent of GDP, and the special military budget for the long-stalled arms procurement package to be integrated into the military's regular budget plan.
"It's not enough but I think the Americans would take it, " Shaheen said after the lecture.
Shaheen resigned from her chairmanship post at the AIT -- a quasi-official institution authorized by the U.S. government to handle relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties -- in April 2004.