MAC OPEN TO STRATEGIES TO BEEF UP DEFENSE CAPABILITY: LIN
Taipei, Dec. 9 (CNA) The Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) would welcome any strategies or measures that are conducive to strengthening Taiwan's defensive capabilities, a senior MAC official said on Thursday.
MAC spokesman and Vice Chairman Lin Chung-ping said seeking peaceful reunification with mainland China and maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait have long been set policies of the MAC, but it welcomes all measures that could beef up Taiwan's defense muscle, given that Beijing has never renounced using force against Taiwan and has continued to mount missile deployment aimed at the island.
Lin made the remarks to echo Vice President Lien Chan's calls Wednesday for long-range missile to deter assault from mainland China.
Addressing a seminar at the Ministry of National Defense's Armed Forces University, Lien said Taiwan needs long-range surface-to-surface missiles that can discourage an attack on Taiwan.
Lien said that in order to ensure the Chinese communists don't dare invade Taiwan, the country must establish a credible deterrent military force and bolster its second-strike capability.
"That includes developing the potential force of long-range surface-to-surface missiles," said Lien, the ruling Kuomintang's candidate for the 2000 presidential election.
Commenting on Lien's missile calls, Lin Yu-fang, an associate professor at Tamkang University, said that seeking development of ballistic missiles is by no means an easy task.
Lin said all plans to develop ballistic missiles are limited by controls established by international treaties.
Moreover, he added, mid-range missiles fired from Taiwan would have a sufficient range to cover the entire mainland. Taiwan's talk of building long-range missiles would be meaningless, except for the purpose of astounding the United States and European countries.
"Lien should read more before speaking," he said. (By Deborah Kuo)
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