Washington, Nov. 12 (CNA) The United States reiterated on Friday that, although it cannot be ruled out, a decision still has not been made on any possible transfer of theater missile defense (TMD) technology to Taiwan.
"We do not preclude the possible sale of TMD items to Taiwan in the future," James Rubin, the States Department spokesman, told reporters.
"Our interest is in preserving peace and stability in the region. Theater missile defense is a system still under development, and it is premature to make that decision at this time," he said, commenting on statements by a US commander about the need for TMD in East Asia.
He said that Washington has consulted with allies and friends on TMD but no decisions on deployment have been made other than for protecting forward-deployed American forces in the region.
The spokesman also said that the United States will continue to assist Taiwan in meeting its legitimate self-defense needs, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
Taiwan has already purchased the US-made Modified Air Defense System (MADS), a Patriot derivative with anti-aircraft and anti-missile capabilities.
Adm. Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, said the United States should start the deployment of TMD to protect US forces deployed within range of North Korean missiles.
In an interview with the Washington Times, Blair also said the United States should help Taiwan build missile defenses against missiles deployed across the Taiwan Strait and dismissed Beijing's objections to US missile-defense assistance to Taiwan. He said such cooperation is needed to counter mainland China's missile buildup and is allowed under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
"As we told the Chinese," he said, "the fact that we are talking about these systems with the Taiwanese is related to the fact that the PRC has an extensive missile-building program going on on their side of the Taiwan Strait."
"We're talking about a balance here. And a count of 500 or 600 (missiles) to a few defenses doesn't seem like a very good balance," Blair said.
In the interview, Blair also said:
--The United States has informed mainland China directly and by past action that it will defend Taiwan against aggression by China.
--Tensions between mainland China and Taiwan and aircraft patrols over the Taiwan Strait have decreased as both sides look to "longer-term" issues.
--Mainland China is buying military technology and is stealing weapons know-how as part of its military modernization program.
Asked how he would respond to a military strike on Taiwan, Blair, following Clinton administration policy, declined to be specific but he said the United States is committed to defending the island.
"I really can't go into detail," he said. But then noted: "We have one data point which is . . . back in 1996 when China did take actions and the U.S. responded."
Beijing knows the United States will not sit by if a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
Despite differences between the United States and mainland China over issues such as Taiwan, Blair looks forward to resuming military-to-military dialogue with the People's Liberation Army.
He said he hopes to have a basic dialogue among the top brass from the two militaries. Beijing has recently indicated their willingness to resume an annual defense dialogue with the Untied States.
Mainland China cut off military exchanges with the United States in May after NATO's accidental bombing of the their embassy in Belgrade. (By Jay Chen)
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