DATE=8/18/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=TAIWAN-T-M-D (L-O) NUMBER=2-252891 BYLINE=WILLIAM IDE DATELINE=TAIPEI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Taiwan's President is backing the island's participation in a missile defense umbrella system. William Ide reports from Taipei about a proposed regional anti-missile system. Text: Taiwan's government-run Central News Agency says President Lee Teng-hui, is calling for his cabinet to support a missile defense system for the island. President Lee spoke (Wednesday) at a closed- door meeting of the ruling Kuomintang Party's Central Committee. The news agency says President Lee's comments were prompted by a report from Defense Minister Tang Fei, who said participation in a theatre missile defense system, called the T-M-D, is a necessity. The Central News Agency quotes General Tang as saying the T-M-D could give Taiwan what it needs, from the perspective of economics, politics, military defense, and public confidence. Monday, the United States and Japan signed an agreement for joint research on missile defense. Japan plans to invest up to 525-million-dollars in the project. Taiwan has been careful in its comments on participation in the system because China, which views the island as part of its sovereign territory, is strongly opposed to T-M-D. Military analysts say General Tang's comments are a clear sign Taiwan is interested in continuing its efforts to join the defense umbrella system. The remarks from President Lee and his top general come as China and Taiwan are engaging in a propaganda battle. The war of words follows President Lee's declaration that relations between the two should be carried out on a -- state-to-state basis. The tensions have resulted in military threats from China, which has long said it would use force if Taiwan declares its independence from the Mainland. (SIGNED) NEB/WI/FC/RAE 18-Aug-1999 07:23 AM LOC (18-Aug-1999 1123 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
