My name is Daniel. I was an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea, and am now a writer who has

published three books including South Korea: Our Story by Daniel Nardini.

                      Before I lived and worked in South Korea, I lived and worked in Taiwan. I know

something about the military situation in Taiwan; its opponent China outnumbers Taiwan's military

1,000 to 1, and hence Taiwan needs to utilize as much advanced technology to fight this military gap

as possible. Since Taiwan has no military defense treaties with any other country, it must provide

for its own self-defense. Taiwan spends two percent of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on its

military. By comparison, South Korea spends 1.2 percent of its GDP on its military. While the percentage

does not seem that different between South Korea and Taiwan, it is a major difference of several

billion American dollars. While many South Koreans complain about the cost of the THAAD (Terminal

High Altitude Area Defense) anti-missile system, Taiwan must spend WAY MORE on its own missile

system because no other country will pick up the cost (note: U.S. Senator John McCain clarified that

the United States would pick-up the cost for the THAAD). One important thing about the U.S. military

presence in South Korea---it serves as a tripwire to any North Korean attack, and the THAAD is only

part of that defense. Taiwan does not have any such tripwire. Worse, Taiwan's missile defense 

system must include offensive missiles to hit Chinese bases in China itself in order to stop any

invasion of Taiwan. Developing and maintaining such missile weaponry is far, far more expensive

than the THAAD. Developing the military airplanes to strike at targets deep in China is expensive, and

building the submarines to defend Taiwan are equally costly. For all that may be wrong with the American

military stationed in South Korea, it keeps South Korea's military spending lower and works as part of a

defense barrier along with Japan to deter North Korean aggression and protect South Korea and Koreans.

Taiwan in truth has no such protection, and must really rely on itself to defend itself.