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Taipei, March 3 (CNA) A Hong Kong-based newspaper, citing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, reported on Friday that mainland China's military capability is insufficient to invade Taiwan.

CIA Director George J. Tenet was quoted by the Sing Tao Daily as saying that "China does not have the military air and sea capability required to put troops on the ground for an invasion of Taiwan," and that "if you are going to take an island, you have to be able to sustain an invasion and we don't think they can do that."

But he warned that "mainland China's mobilization, particularly of short-range ballistic missiles to coastal areas opposite Taiwan, should not be ignored." Tenet made the remarks in an interview with Reuters earlier this week.

Mainland China issued a white paper on Taiwan last week, threatening military invasion against Taiwan if the island delays indefinitely unification talks with the mainland. The white paper has been viewed by Taiwan experts and western analysts as an apparent attempt to influence Taiwan's March 18 presidential election.

James Lilley, a former US ambassador to Beijing, was also cited by the Sing Tao Daily as pointing out that a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait could lead to "disastrous consequences," and that the Chinese communists must understand that the use of force "is not the resolution."

According to Lilley, the United States may not be able to persuade mainland China not to use force against Taiwan, but it wants to be sure nevertheless that mainland China will never resort to military force against the island.

Commenting on recent remarks by US President Bill Clinton that the Taiwan issue must be resolved peacefully with the agreement of the people of Taiwan, Lilley said such a statement will benefit Taiwan, but that US officials have not mentioned it enough times.

However, he said he does not agree that a proposal for the United States to sell Aegis destroyers to Taiwan and approve the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act should be used as a tit-for-tat response to Beijing's issuing of the white paper on Taiwan.

On US arms sales to Taiwan, Lilley said the United States should stick to the principles set by the Reagan Administration, which insist on a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan Strait issue and a military balance in the Taiwan Strait. (By Flor Wang)