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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


February 2000 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • US expected to sell Aegis ships February 29, 2000 -- Eleven Jan, a senior editor at the Defense Technology Monthly magazine, expressed doubts that conscripts, who make up the bulk of Taiwan's armed forces, could properly operate the sophisticated Aegis technology.
  • MAC, Lee respond to white paper News reports February 29, 2000 --Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council Su Chi formally responded to Beijing's latest Taiwan white paper on Friday, saying that the mainland was attempting to interfere in the upcoming presidential election, and that by threatening to use force Beijing was actually damaging prospects for unification.
  • US MUST SUPPORT TAIWAN'S DEFENSE: US POLICY ANALYST Feb. 28 (CNA) The Clinton administration could mollify history's potentially harsh judgment by selling Taiwan the AEGIS naval defense system, the AMRAAM anti-aircraft missile and starting a crash program to build lasers capable of dealing with the missile threat to Taiwan.
  • Mainland China throws its weight around 27 February 2000 -- China is trying to influence Taiwan's presidential election. Confirmation of this came from the director of mainland China 's Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhang Mingqing, in an interview with Japan's NHK radio. Zhang's message was simple: Elect the DPP's Chen Shui-bian and cross-strait relations won't improve.
  • Three leading candidates stress sovereignty of island Taiwan News 25 February 2000 -- Taiwan's presidential candidates promised to hold cross-strait peace talks if elected, but said they will not be forced into negotiations by Beijing's strong-arm tactics. James Soong, Chen Shui-bian and Lien Chan all stressed the sovereignty of the nationalist island and said Beijing's intimidation would only provoke disdain among Taiwan's population.
  • Statement on Mainland China's White Paper Mainland Affairs Council February 25, 2000 -- The mainland policy of the ROC government has consistently been based on the respect for separate rule of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Through dialogues and exchanges, the ROC government has gradually promoted the normalization of cross-Strait relations in order to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and enhance the cross-Strait reconciliation step by step.
  • Playing the stability cardBy Myra Lu -- Free China Review 02/25/2000 -- Chen stressed Taiwan sovereignty while describing cross-strait affairs as "special relations between two countries." Chen will push for normalization of relations with the mainland.
  • Statement on mainland China's White Paper Mainland Affairs Council, Executive Yuan Republic of China February 25, 2000 -- We must solemnly point out that the ROC government will by no means agree with the PRC's unilateral definition of "one China". The ROC has always been an independent sovereign state. This fact will not be changed by the issuing of a mere "white paper". If China is unified, why does the unification issue still exist? If China is one, why bother to mention "one China"?
  • MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin February 25, 2000 Press Conference -- The ROC government has never betrayed the scope of "one China should be subject to interpreted respectively by each side." However, Beijing has set aside this agreement in three steps. First, it restricted the agreement for only cross-strait relations, not foreign affairs. Second, the agreement, at the PRC's insistence, should be limited to cross-strait practical issues, not political talks. Third, the PRC categorically denied the agreement.
  • MAC Chairman Su Chi February 25, 2000 Press Conference -- The consensus that "one China interpreted respectively by each side" is not something that came out of the blue. It was adopted in 1992. The agreement successfully gave rise to the subsequent talks. The PRC's views on the 1992 agreement now differ widely from our views. The PRC's "one-China principle" is that "Taiwan is a local authority, and the Republic of China no longer exists." For the past five decades, the PRC has treated us as a local area. We used to treat Mainland China as a rebel group. The so-called "time element" is the third "if" of its three conditions in White Paper, which is very unfriendly in our view. A timetable (for unification) does not contribute to cross-strait relations. Either the year 2007 or 2010 is a speculation by the media. We won't comment on that.
  • ROC COUNTERS BEIJING'S CLAIMS BY AGAIN CALLING TIES STATE-TO-STATE [CNA Taiwan] 25 February 2000 -- Taipei reiterated its advocacy of special state-to-state ties with Beijing to counter mainland China's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
  • ROC NAVY'S 11TH CHINCHIANG-CLASS PATROL SHIP CHRISTENED [CNA Taiwan] 25 February 2000 -- The patrol ship Chuchiang, the 11th and the last of the Chinchiang-class vessels constructed by China Shipbuilding Corp. for the Republic of China Navy, was christened on Friday.
  • Taiwan, U.S. officials silent on aircraft carrier moves [CHINA NEWS] 25 February 2000 -- U.S. Defense Department said yesterday that the sailing of the USS Kitty Hawk from its home port of Yokosuka in Japan is related to a planned military maneuver and has nothing to do with Taiwan's presidential election.
  • SAILING OF USS KITTY HAWK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEIJING'S WHITE PAPER [CNA Taiwan] 24 February 2000 -- The sailing of the American aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk out of its home port of Yokosuka is to carry out a scheduled military drill and has nothing to do with Taiwan's presidential election or Beijing's white paper on the Taiwan issue.
  • TAIWAN ELECTIONS - CHINA Voice of America 24 February 2000 -- Voter support in Taiwan for presidential candidates is virtually unchanged in the aftermath of a new threat from Beijing.
  • WASHINGTON REITERATES LONG-STANDING POLICY ON TAIWAN ISSUE [CNA Taiwan] 24 February 2000 -- The Clinton administration on Wednesday once again stressed the long-standing US policy that rejects any use of force or threat of force to resolve the Taiwan issue.
  • THREATENING TAIWAN IS AGAINST PRC INTERESTS SAYS FRENCH DEFENSE CHIEF [CNA Taiwan] 24 February 2000 -- Neither threats of force nor the actual attempt to carry out any military action against Taiwan is in the interests of the People's Republic of China, French Defense Minister Alain Richard said here Wednesday.
  • FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER WARNS CHINA TO BACK OFF FROM TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 24 February 2000 -- French Defense Minister Alain Richard said: "We do warn China that it's against their interests to make any kind of threat or any kind of -- play military pressure over Taiwan."
  • US REJECTS BEIJING'S THREAT OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- The United States government stressed Tuesday that it rejects any use of force or any threat of force in resolving the Taiwan issue, saying Communist China's latest threat is "counterproductive and unhelpful," but added that there is no consideration being given to a change in the US policy on Taiwan.
  • US AIRCRAFT CARRIER MONITORING TAIWAN SITUATION, SAYS JAPANESE TV [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- Fuji TV said that the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk may be dispatched to waters close to Taiwan if the situation across the Taiwan Strait becomes tense before or after Taiwan's March 18 presidential election.
  • HELMS ATTACKS PRC AND CLINTON ADMINISTRATION [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- Veteran US Senator Jesse Helms on Tuesday blasted Beijing over its white paper on the Taiwan issue and criticized the White House for its lukewarm attitude toward Taiwan's defense.
  • JAPAN: CROSS-STRAIT ISSUE MUST BE SETTLED VIA DIALOG & PEACEFUL MEANS [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- Japanese officials on Wednesday reiterated the Japanese government's consistent position that the cross-Taiwan Strait issue should be settled through dialog and by peaceful means.
  • LATEST MAINLAND CHINA THREATS TO TAIWAN IRK US CONGRESS MEMBERS [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- Several members of the US Congress on Tuesday criticized Beijing for once again threatening to use military force against Taiwan, and called on the Clinton administration to react more strongly to such intimidation.
  • BEIJING WILL FACE `INCALCULABLE CONSEQUENCES:' US OFFICIAL [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- US Undersecretary of Defense Walter Slocombe on Tuesday warned Beijing that it faces "incalculable consequences" if it follows through on its threat of force against Taiwan.
  • ROC HAILS US STANCE ON PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO TAIWAN STRAIT ISSUE [CNA Taiwan] 23 February 2000 -- The Republic of China welcomes the US reiteration of its stance on peaceful solution to the Taiwan Strait issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Wednesday.
  • How We View Beijing's White Paper "One China Principle and the Taiwan Issue" Mainland Affairs Council 22 February 2000 -- In our view, China since 1949 has been hitherto divided. Before the day of unification arrives, each of the two sides should be entitled to different interpretations on "one China."
  • SCHOLAR INTERPRETS BEIJING'S WHITE PAPER ON TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 22 February 2000 -- Though Beijing has in the past repeatedly said it would use force if Taiwan is invaded by a foreign force, proclaims independence or is troubled by internal chaos, this marks the first time mainland China has stated so clearly that if Taiwan authorities indefinitely refuse to peacefully settle the reunification issue, Beijing would be forced to adopt all possible "drastic measures," including military force.
  • SOONG: TAIWAN WON'T BOW TO BEIJING'S THREAT [CNA Taiwan] 22 February 2000 -- Independent presidential hopeful James Soong on Tuesday criticized Beijing for issuing a new warning to Taiwan, and said that Taiwan would never sit down at the negotiation table under threat.
  • TAIWAN / CHINA-UPDATE Voice of America 22 February 2000 -- In the face of new threats from China, Taiwan on Tuesday defiantly insisted it should be declared an independent state.
  • U-S - TAIWAN ELECTION Voice of America 22 February 2000 -- Many American analysts believe Beijing issued its White Paper at this time to send a message to the candidates as well as the voters in Taiwan's March 18th presidential election.
  • MND DENIES DISCLOSURE OF INTELLIGENCE CHANNELS [CNA Taiwan] 21 February 2000 -- Chinese Maj. Gen. Liu Liankun, his unnamed mistress, and Senior Col. Shao Zhengzhong were executed in mainland China last September on charges of spying for Taiwan. Liu was charged with tipping off Taiwan that missiles fired by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near the island on March 8, 1996 as part of its live-fire war games carried only dummy warheads.
  • TAIWAN MAKES NO INSTANT OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO BEIJING WHITE PAPER [CNA Taiwan] 21 February 2000 -- An aide to Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Su Chi said on Monday that the MAC will not make an instant comment on the "one China principle and the Taiwan issue" white paper just issued by Beijing.
  • US LIKELY TO INTERVENE IN CHINESE ATTACK ON TAIWAN: SPECIALIST [CNA Taiwan] 19 February 2000 -- Martin L. Lasater, an independent scholar affiliated with the Asian Pacific program of the Washington-based Atlantic Council, warned that the United States is unlikely to help defend Taiwan if Taipei deliberately precipitates a crisis in the Taiwan Straits to gain US support for independence.
  • TAIWAN WARNED AGAINST POSSIBLE `INFORMATION WAR' BY CHINA [CNA Taiwan] 19 February 2000 -- Beijing, based on the principle of taking Taiwan in a single strike, could employ its advanced information technology edge to intercept Taiwan's strategic information and interfere with its weaponry and warfare systems.
  • PREMIER REITERATES ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE ZONE IN TAIWAN STRAIT [CNA Taiwan] 18 February 2000 -- Premier Vincent Siew on Friday reiterated his call for the establishment of a "Taiwan Strait peace zone" so as to promote the normalization of cross-strait relations.
  • MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin February 18, 2000 Press Conference - Subjects: DPP legislators' draft bill; Lien's 10-point proposal; Elementary school for children of Taiwan businessmen on the Mainland.
  • TAIWAN POLITICS Voice of America 17 February 2000 -- Taiwan's Vice President Lien Chan says if he wins the island's upcoming presidential election, he would be willing to enter into official talks with China and ease long-standing trade restrictions.
  • KMT CANDIDATE UNVEILS CAMPAIGN PLATFORM FOR CROSS-STRAIT TIES [CNA Taiwan] 17 February 2000 -- Ruling Kuomintang presidential candidate Lien Chan unveiled his campaign platform for relations across the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, promising to catapult cross-strait ties into a "medium range" stage if he manages to win presidency.
  • WASHINGTON ISN'T EXCLUDING TAIWAN FROM TMD: US OFFICIAL [CNA Taiwan] 17 February 2000 -- Holum did, however, state that the United States has not ruled out the possibility of including Taiwan in the TMD system which focuses on intercepting high-altitude missiles. "We have not ruled that out," he said.
  • NEW ANALYSIS CONCLUDES CHINA MAY BE WILLING TO USE FORCE AGAINST US [CNA Taiwan] 16 February 2000 -- Communist China, despite an awareness of its relative weakness, might nevertheless be willing to use force against the United States or in a way that runs a major risk of US involvement, seeking primarily to achieve a political effect.
  • US WILL ASSIST TAIWAN IN CASE OF CRISIS: FORMER US LAWMAKER [CNA Taiwan] 16 February 2000 -- The United States will not sit idly by if Taiwan is intimidated by mainland China in the runup to the island's March 18 presidential election, former US Congressman Stephen Solarz said on Wednesday.
  • TSEA 'could backfire' for Taiwan : Taipei Times 14 February 2000 -- Senate approval of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TESA) would prevent mainland China's possible interference in Taiwan's presidential election next month, analysts here said that such a move could backfire and heighten cross-strait tensions.
  • SOONG STRESSES NEED TO REOPEN CROSS-STRAIT DIALOGUE CHANNEL [CNA Taiwan] 14 February 2000 -- Independent Presidential candidate James Soong reiterated on Monday that the two sides of Taiwan Strait must lower their confrontation and reopen dialogue channels and sign a peaceful non-invasion treaty.
  • MOJIB HEAD ADMITS INFILTRATION BY PRC SPIES [CNA Taiwan] 14 February 2000 -- The head of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau (MOJIB) on Monday admitted that mainland Chinese spies have infiltrated Taiwan and conducted intelligence work here. Wang disclosed that a total of 376 mainlanders were expelled over the past three years after being found to have carried out undercover intelligence work in Taiwan.
  • POLL SHOWS SOONG, CHEN NECK AND NECK IN RACE FOR PRESIDENCY [CNA Taiwan] 13 February 2000 -- Chen Shui-bian, the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was favored by 26.1 percent of those surveyed. James Soong commanded the support of 25.7 percent of respondents. The ruling Kuomintang's candidate Lien Chan came in third place with 20.3 percent of respondents' support, while the New Party's Li Ao and the other independent Hsu Hsin-liang brought up the rear with 1.5 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
  • US INTERESTS BETTER SERVED BY TSEA: ANALYST [CNA Taiwan] 12 February 2000 -- By voting before Taiwan's forthcoming presidential election, the Senate assures Taiwan's people that mainland China's military coercion will not be unnoticed or unchecked by the United States, said Stephen Yates of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation in an analysis titled "Time to Act on Taiwan's Security."
  • New PRC destroyer passes without incident Taiwan News February 12, 2000 -- Mainland Affairs Council Spokesman Lin Chong-pin told reporters that "building a democracy, not buying new warships, is the best way for mainland China to speed up reunification with Taiwan. Our elections will be far more powerful than any modern destroyers the mainland acquires... Democracy is the world trend, and we believe time is on our side," Lin said.
  • NAVAL DESTROYERS STRAIT PASSAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ELECTIONS: MAC [CNA Taiwan] 11 February 2000 -- The reported passage of two new mainland Chinese destroyers through the Taiwan Strait during the early morning hours of Saturday has nothing to do with Taiwan's presidential election scheduled for March 18, a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said on Friday.
  • MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin LinFebruary 11, 2000 Press Conference -- Chinese views on Taiwan's presidential election; Taiwan's dependence on the Mainland market; delivery of Russian destroyers to PRC; ROC representative to Hong Kong.
  • MAINLAND WARSHIP SCHEDULED TO PASS THROUGH TAIWAN STRAIT [CNA Taiwan] 10 February 2000 -- The reported passage in the coming days of a mainland Chinese warship through the Taiwan Strait is an attempt at psychologically intimidating Taiwan, said an official in charge of mainland affairs on Thursday.
  • Don't rely on US, Li Ao says United Daily News 10 February 2000 - New Party presidential candidate Li Ao said yesterday that Taiwan cannot place its fate in the hands of the Americans, because the United States is not reliable, and could sell Taiwan out for the sake of its own interests. Li also described the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) initiative as inappropriate.
  • U-S-TAIWAN SECURITY Voice of America 03 February 2000 -- Congressional Republicans accuse the Clinton Administration of neglecting the commitment to Taiwan. Their bill would, for the first time, set up direct military to military communications with the island and give Congress more of a say in what U-S weapons systems can be sold to Taiwan.
  • TAWIAN - CHINA Voice of America 03 February 2000 -- Taiwan's official opposition party is hailing the U-S House of Representatives passage of the Taiwan Enhancement Act.
  • TAIWAN - CHINA- CIA Voice of America 03 February 2000 -- The head of the Central Intelligence Agency says growing tensions between Taiwan and China could spark another military "flare up" in the next few months.
  • Taiwan politicians hail Security Act vote China Times February 3, 2000 -- Monday's vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA) has been welcomed by members of the ruling Kuomintang and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, but criticized by the minority New Party's vice presidential candidate.
  • CLINTON-TAIWAN Voice of America 02 February 2000 -- The White House has served notice that President Clinton intends to veto, if necessary, a bill before Congress strengthening U-S military ties with Taiwan.
  • TAIWAN - ELECTION Voice of America 02 February 2000 -- Concerns are mounting in Taiwan that China may try to intimidate the island province before its March 18th presidential election.
  • CHINA / U-S / TAIWAN Voice of America 02 February 2000 -- China has summoned the U-S ambassador to complain about the approval of legislation in the House of Representatives that would strengthen U-S military ties with Taiwan.
  • US House passes Taiwan security law Taiwan Headlines Wednesday, February 2, 2000 -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted Monday (Washington time) to pass the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA), a controversial law which would expand military ties between Taiwan and the United States. The bill received the backing of 341 lawmakers, including 140 Democrats and one independent.
  • Tang says low-level missile defense needed Taiwan Headlines Wednesday, February 2, 2000 -- Minister of National Defense Tang Fei said Tuesday that Taiwan needs to build its own low-level missile defense to protect itself from mainland China's missile deployments.
  • ROC WELCOMES US HOUSE PASSAGE OF TAIWAN SECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT (CNA-Taiwan) 02 February 2000 -- The Republic of China government welcomes Tuesday's passage by the US House of Representatives of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA).
  • US LAWMAKERS URGED TO SUPPORT TAIWAN SECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT (CNA-Taiwan) 01 February 2000 -- It is believed that the Clinton administration is striving hard to prevent the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act from becoming law by dissuading the Senate from passing the bill.
  • US REPORTEDLY TO SELL ANTI-SUB PLANES, MISSILES TO TAIWAN (CNA-Taiwan) 01 February 2000 -- Taiwan's request to acquire four AEGIS radar systems has caused a fierce debate within the Clinton Administration. The Pentagon agrees with the sales and the National Security Council and State Department officials object to the proposal.
  • CONGRESS-CHINA-TAIWAN Voice of America 01 February 2000 -- In a solid bipartisan vote (341 to 70), House members passed a bill to strengthen contacts, training and communication with the Taiwanese military.
  • TAIWAN ARMS Voice of America 01 February 2000 -- Taiwan media are quoting military sources as saying the island wants to purchase a long range radar system from the United States. The system would be able to detect threats as far as 3000 kilometers, covering all of China.
  • Text: Gilman on Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, H.R. 1838 USIA 1 February 2000 -- Scorning what he termed Beijing's "thuggish attempts at intimidation," Representative Benjamin A. Gilman (Republican of New York), exulted in a sweeping bipartisan 341 to 70 vote in favor of H.R. 1838 -- the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act -- in the U.S. House of Representatives February 1.
  • Policy Chairman Hails Passage of Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (February 1, 2000) House Policy Chairman Christopher Cox called today's overwhelming passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act "a ringing bipartisan commitment to freedom and democracy in Asia."



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