CROSS-STRAIT MILITARY BALANCE SHIFTING TOWARD BEIJING: U.S.
Central News Agency
2005-07-20 20:12:57
Washington, July 20 (CNA) Taiwan's defense spending has steadily declined in real terms over the past decade, even as China's air, naval and missile force modernization has increased the need for countermeasures that would enable Taiwan to avoid being quickly overwhelmed, according to a U.S. government report.
In a report to Congress released Tuesday, the Department of National Defense says the cross-Taiwan Strait military balance appears to be shifting toward Beijing as a result of China's sustained economic growth, growing diplomatic leverage and improvements in the PLA's military capabilities.
On the other hand, the report notes, a US$15.3 billion special budget for the purchase of the Patriot PAC-III air defense system, P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft and eight diesel-electric submarines, approved by the United States for sale to Taiwan in 2001, is now before Taiwan's Legislative Yuan.
The report is titled "The Military Power of the People's Republic of China."
(By Jeorge Liu and S.C. Chang)
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