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Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) A ruling Kuomintang official said on Sunday that the Republic of China will cooperate with the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in setting up a missile defense system.

Liu Tai-ying, chairman of the KMT's Business Management Commission, made the statement while hiking in mountains in Mucha on the outskirts of Taipei together with a group of local reporters.

Liu's statement came after President Lee Teng-hui, also KMT chairman, called for early establishment of an advanced missile defense system on Saturday during an inspection tour of a Patriot missile base in Wanli, Taipei Couty.

Liu said both Taiwan and ASEAN countries are included in the US-centered missile defense system. "With its proximity to communist China, Taiwan can play an important role in this missile defense dragnet," the outspoken KMT official said.

Noting that Taiwan is now endeavoring to set up its own low-altitude missile defense system, Liu said Taiwan has yet to discuss many details about the establishment of a comprehensive missile defense system in cooperation with the United States and ASEAN countries.

Meanwhile, press reports said President Lee was satisfied with combat readiness training and weaponry installation and maintenance at the Wanli Patriot missile base in northern Taiwan during his inspection tour on Saturday.

The ROC Army formed a missile unit in 1959. Over the years, the unit's weaponry systems and other related equipment have continually been upgraded to meet the country's defense needs.

Lee was quoted as having encouraged Army personnel at the Wanli missile base to make continued efforts to sharpen their combat skills and beef up defense capabilities in the face of mainland China's persistent military threat.

Meanwhile, the Army's missile unit commander told President Lee that Patriot missile defense systems installed at the Wanli base have recently passed a series of stringent operational tests, including systematic operations, simulated combat drills and all-system combat drills.

The commander said all operations met stringent US military standards and that the ROC army's performances won praise from US military personnel who supervised the whole process of testing. Taiwan has purchased highly advanced US-made Patriot missile defense systems to beef up its air-defense capabilities. (By Sofia Wu)