Washington, Dec. 14 (CNA) Instead of giving Taiwan ballistic missiles, US senator John McCain advocated on Tuesday the development of a sea-borne missile system which can be moved into troubled areas or international waters if necessary.
In a debate between Republican presidential hopefuls in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, McCain said a sea-borne missile system would achieve the same goals as a land-based system, and that if elected, he will help Taiwan acquire necessary weapons.
Noting that the "one China" policy followed by Washington is based on the fundamental principle of peaceful reunification of China, the senator warned that Beijing will violate this policy by committing aggression against Taiwan.
Describing the Beijing regime as "a group of people hell-bent on hanging onto power," the Vietnam War hero-turned-politician said Washington can convince them that it is in their interest to enter the world as a superpower, and in a peaceful, contributory fashion.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, another contender for the Republican nomination, boasted during the debate that he was one of the authors of the Taiwan Relations Act which is aimed at supporting Taiwan because "we don't want them walked all over."
"We owe an obligation to Taiwan ... I am for keeping those obligations," said Hatch.
As for mainland China, the senator said: "We can through good diplomacy and toughness, we can get China to back off on those types of (intimidation of Taiwan) activities."
Gary Bauer, a Reagan administration official, described his colleagues as naive about Beijing's leaders, and said the United States cannot duck the challenge that the mainland intends to replace the United States as the Pacific superpower.
Texas Governor George W. Bush, billionaire Steve Forbes and former State Department official Alan Keyes also took part in the debate. (By Jay Chen & Maubo Chang)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
