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Source: Taipei Times Thursday, October 28, 1999

No. 38

The Act: Ins and outs

The Taiwan Security Enhancement Act as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee on Oct. 26 mandates:

* That the Defense Department make available additional positions for Taiwan officers to train at U.S. military academies;

* The provision of a report detailing Taiwan's arms requests within 60 days of the conclusion of negotiations. The report must detail Taiwan's requests, Taiwan's defense needs and provide explanation for the rejection, postponement or modification of any request;

* That any attempt to determine defense material supplied to Taiwan according to any other basis than Taiwan's defense needs - such as according to the Aug. 17, 1982, Communique with the PRC - would be a violation of the Taiwan Relations Act;

* Joint training and exchange of personnel between the U.S. and Taiwan armed forces is to be arranged;

* The setting up of direct communications between the U.S. Pacific military command and the Taiwan military command with 180 days of the passage of the act.

The following measures were included in the draft bill, but deleted before passage by the committee:

Authorization of the U.S. president to make available to Taiwan:

* TMD equipment, including ground-based and naval-based defense systems, as well the provision of related technical information and personnel training;

* Satellite early warning data;

* Air defense equipment including AIM-120 air-to-air missiles and additional advanced fighters and AWACS (Airborne warning and control system);

* Diesel-powered submarines, anti-submarine systems, naval anti-missile systems including Aegis destroyers, and advanced naval communications systems.