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Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, I am dismayed to report to my colleagues this morning that the People's Republic of China has announced that it will conduct a new series of guided missile tests in the East China Sea between August 15 and 25. What dismays me about the announcement is that the tests--staged by the People's Liberation Army--will be the second series in less than a month to be conducted just off the coast of southeastern Zhejiang Province, and that the southern perimeter of the test area is only 90 miles north of Taiwan.
The PRC conducted similar tests of six air-to-air missiles from July 21 to 26 in an area only 60 kilometers north of Taiwan's Pengchiayu Island. The missiles test-fired consisted mainly of Dongfeng-31 intercontinental ballistic missiles and M-class short-range tactical missiles. At the same time, the PLA mobilized forces in coastal Fujian Province and moved a number of Jian-8 aircraft to the coast. It is likely that this new round of tests and exercises will be similar.
These tests clearly have a political purpose, and are meant as a warning to Taiwan to cease its efforts at expanding its international recognition. Although the PRC's Foreign Ministry, through its spokesman Shen Guofeng, has repeatedly denied any such purpose, I would remind them of one of their own sayings: `Listen to what a person says, but watch what he does.' These are the actions which call into serious question in my mind the validity of Mr. Shen's statement. The tests are being conducted within as close a proximity of Taiwanese territory as possible. While similar tests are a usual part of the annual training exercises of the Chinese 2d Artillery Corps, these are the only times in many years that the tests have been announced publicly. The tests follow closely on the heels of the private visit of President Lee Tang-hui to Cornell University, and amid a flurry of mainland Chinese invective denouncing the visit and President Lee. In conjunction with the tests, Taiwan intelligence reported that the PRC was planning on conducting a joint sea-air military exercise codenamed `Jiu-wu-qi' and that on July 16 the PRC Air Force stationed a number of F-7 or F-8 aircraft at airports located within 250 nautical miles of Taiwan--a highly unusual and provocative move.
The PLA is clearly the principal force pushing for the tests. At a time when the jockeying for position in the PRC's transitional post-Deng Government continues, taking what can be perceived as a soft stance toward either the United States or Taiwan is considered by many to be the equivalent of political suicide. When the Party and military hierarchy were assured by the Foreign Ministry that the United States would never allow President Lee to visit, only to have the visa approved a few days later, it caused a serious `we-told-you-so' backlash from the hardline conservative PLA leadership. In order to maintain credibility with the military, and continue to enjoy their support, the political hierarchy has decided to react strongly--one would almost say overreact--to President Lee's visit and other perceived threats.
Mr. President, although the Taiwan Government and people have shown remarkable restraint in calmly facing these latest antagonisms, I am sure that a continuation of the mainland's provocations cannot go unanswered for long. This is especially true in light of statements such as a recent pronouncement by Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian, reported by the Chinese official news agency Xinhua on July 31, that the PLA will not undertake to give up the use of force in settling the Taiwan issue. Certainly, as the perceived threat to Taiwan increases, so too will their reaction. The PRC's tests are clearly behind an August 2 statement by Lt. General Ju Kai-sheng, President of Taiwan's Army Artillery Training School, that Taiwan is ready to establish anti-missile systems to beef up its defensive capabilities. Toward that end, Taiwan has struck a deal with the Massachusetts-based Raytheon Corp. to purchase approximately $796 million worth of Patriot missiles.
If the Beijing Government continues in this antagonistic posture, it will only end up shooting itself in the foot. I would remind the Beijing Government that pursuant to the three joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States can supply defensive military technology to Taiwan. While we have not been predisposed over the last few years to exercise that right, continuing threatening military displays aimed at Taiwan will, I am sure, have an effect on that posture that the PRC will likely not appreciate.
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