• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S. DEPLOYS B-52S IN GUAM TO COPE WITH NORTH KOREAN SITUATION: MOFA

2004-04-09 17:53:04

    Taipei, April 9 (CNA) A U.S. decision to deploy six B-52 bombers on Guam is mainly aimed at coping with the North Korean situation, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Ying-mao Kau said Friday.

    Kau made the remarks in response to a press inquiry about his views on the recent U.S. announcement that it will again deploy B-52 bombers on Guam.

    Kau said the U.S. decision does not have any direct relations with the Taiwan Strait situation.

    After the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Kau said, the United States is now focusing its attention on North Korean issues with the aim of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. "The B-52 deployment is part of the U.S. efforts to strengthen Asia-Pacific security measures. It is mainly related to the situation on the Korean peninsula and does not directly relate to cross-Taiwan Strait ties," Kau said.

    Touching on the resignation of American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Therese Shaheen, Kau said personnel reshuffles are a normal procedure in any government.

    Noting that the United States has a well-crafted administrative system, Kau said a single personnel change will not affect its policy line. "We need not be overly worried about the AIT personnel reshuffle, " Kau said, adding that Shaheen's departure will in no way affect Taiwan-U.S. relations.

    AIT is a quasi-official U.S. organization authorized to handle relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

    As to the possibility of the European Union lifting its ban on selling arms to mainland China, Kau said the proposal is not expected to be approved soon.

    Kao said some E.U. member states, such as France and Germany, indeed intend to lift the mainland China-bound arms export ban. However, according to the E.U.'s decision-making style, the proposal must obtain the approval of all E.U. member states. Moreover, Kau said, the number of E.U. members will expand from the current 15 to 25 May 1. "By then, the E.U. deicion-making procedure will have become even more complicated. Against this backdrop, I don't think the arms ban lifiting proposal can be passed any time soon," Kau added.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J