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Taipei, April 18 (CNA) Defense Minister-designate Wu Shih-wen said on Tuesday that Aegis destroyers are critical to defend Taiwan's security.

Wu, incumbent vice defense minister, made the remarks while attending a meeting at the Legislative Yuan.

Wu said he has not yet received any information concerning whether the United States will sell Aegis warships to Taiwan this year.

Delegates from the Republic of China and the United States are meeting in Washington, D.C. to review Taiwan's defense needs and its weaponry and military equipment procurement plan.

Press reports from Washington said the Clinton administration has deferred a decision to sell four highly sophisticated Aegis destroyers to Taiwan as part of its efforts to avoid a new confrontation with mainland China.

According to those reports, the Clinton administration has instead agreed to sell some other weaponry systems and military equipment to Taiwan, including advanced AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles and a long-range radar, known as PAVE PAWS, that can peer deep into mainland China to detect missile launches.

Wu declined to make any comment on those reports, saying he has not yet received any information concerning ongoing arms purchase talks between the two sides.

Wu explained that the Aegis-equipped destroyers can serve as a seaborne base for anti-ballistic missile defense systems. In view of Beijing's mounting missile threat to Taiwan, Wu said, Aegis destroyers are crucial to defend Taiwan's security.

Asked whether Taiwan has a strong desire to acquire Aegis destroyers, Wu said the ROC military has many expectations concerning acquisition of sophisticated defensive weapons. "Whether we can realize our goal will depend on our effort," he added. (By Sofia Wu)