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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


March 2000 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • Two Chinese States By Jesse Helms Washington Post March 31, 2000 -- The military balance of power of the past 20 years--when it was widely assumed that Taiwan had air superiority and could thereby thwart any attempted invasion or blockade by the mainland--is quickly shifting in Beijing's favor.
  • BEIJING IS STILL DEBATING WHAT TO DO ON CHEN'S ELECTION: CAMPBELL (CNA Taiwan) 31 March 2000 -- Beijing has still not made up its mind and is actively debating what its approach will be in response to the election of pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Shui-bian.
  • CHINA TAIWAN Voice of America 31 March 2000 -- Defense Secretary William Cohen says Taiwan "has a very capable military" even though a top secret Pentagon report is critical of the island's defenses.
  • POST-ELECTION TAIWAN Voice of America 31 March 2000 -- Beijing continues to insist Taiwan is part of China but not so loudly as during the presidential election campaign. After the pre-election build-up, tensions between China and Taiwan are back to normal.
  • CLINTON-CHINA Voice of America 29 March 2000 -- President Clinton has urged China and Taiwan to renew their political dialogue in the aftermath of the Taiwanese presidential election March 18th
  • CONGRESS-TAIWAN Voice of America 28 March 2000 -- The U-S House of Representatives has passed (418-1) a formal resolution congratulating the people of Taiwan on their recent election of President Chen Shui-bian (Schway-bien).
  • Text: Senate Approves March 28 Resolution on Taiwan Elections 28 March 2000 -- The Senate's leading Republican, Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, and Democratic Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware urged their Senate colleagues March 28 to pass a resolution praising the successful democratic elections held in Taiwan ten days earlier.
  • Text: Lawmakers Praise Taiwan Elections in March 28 Vote 28 March 2000 -- A broad spectrum of Congress March 28 rose to support a House resolution that praised the democratic elections in Taiwan ten days earlier, and criticized Beijing for threatening to use force against Taiwan. By an overwhelming 418-1, the lawmakers passed House Concurrent Resolution 292.
  • Text: Representative Gilman Praises Taiwan's "Courageous Democracy" 28 March 2000 -- The chairman of the House International Relations Committee urged President Clinton to follow a policy more like former President Ronald Reagan's on Taiwan, and called on Beijing to stop threatening Taiwan.
  • WAR CAN'T BE RULED OUT IN TAIWAN STRAIT SAYS ACADEMIC [CNA Taiwan] 28 March 2000 -- War in the Taiwan Straits cannot be ruled out despite the peace overtures to China by President-elect Chen Shui-bian.
  • CONGRESSMEN SEEK RESOLUTION TO HALT RUSSIAN MISSILE SALES TO CHINA [CNA Taiwan] 28 March 2000 -- ) Sixteen US congressmen have co-sponsored a House resolution seeking to prevent Russia from further providing Communist China with Sunburn anti-ship missiles.
  • A SEA OF DANGER SURROUNDS TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 27 March 2000 -- Communist China still lacks the amphibious capability and long-range aircraft needed to mount a successful invasion of Taiwan, though it could take the offshore islands of Matsu and Quemoy.
  • NAVY TO ADD FAST ATTACK BOATS TO BEEF UP DEFENSE [CNA Taiwan] 27 March 2000 -- The navy has completed a blueprint for the building of the "Kuanghua 6." Bidding for the construction of the fast attack boats will begin next month.
  • BEIJING LIKELY TO CREATE 'CRISES' TO TEST TAIWAN'S NEW PRESIDENT [CNA Taiwan] 26 March 2000 -- Beijing is likely to "create some crises" to test the new Taiwan president's possible reaction after he assumes office on May 20, Columbia University professor Andrew Nathan predicted on Saturday.
  • TAIWAN - POLITICS Voice of America 24 March 2000 -- Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui has officially resigned his post as leader of the island's ruling Nationalist party.
  • CHINA AND TAIWAN Voice of America 24 March 2000 -- The People's Republic of China had denounced President-elect Chen's candidacy, suggesting that if he won, war might result. Mr. Chen's party has advocated independence for Taiwan. Since the election, both sides have tempered their rhetoric, but the future of Taiwan-China relations remains unclear.
  • Text: Lee Hamilton Remarks at American Institute in Taiwan 24 March 2000 -- Former U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton praised Taiwan's President-elect Chen Shui-bian for his "prudent, positive statements on cross-strait relations" since the election this month.
  • MOST AMERICANS SAY PRC WITH NUKES WOULD BE THREAT TO US, WORLD [CNA Taiwan] 24 March 2000 -- Americans by a margin of 52 percent to 37 percent say US military power should not be used to help Taiwan if Communist China attacks.
  • MAINLAND CHINESE FISHING VESSELS MASSING OFF MATSU ISLANDS [CNA Taiwan] 24 March 2000 -- Mainland Chinese iron-hulled fishing vessels have been reported to be massing in the waters off Tungyin, one of the Republic of China-controlled outlying Matsu Islands, causing concern among island residents.
  • SEN. MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS CHEN VISIT TO US [CNA Taiwan] 23 March 2000 -- Senator Frank Murkowski on Wednesday expressed support for Republic of China President-elect Chen Shui-bian to visit the United States before he is sworn in.
  • Chen moving too fast, scholar says Liberty Times March 23, 2000 -- Since emerging victorious in the recent presidential election, the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian has been seeking to calm fears that his pro-independence leanings will lead to cross-strait instability. So eagerly has Chen been pushing this point that some scholars warn that he may be going too far.
  • DPP independence proposal shelved Taipei Times March 23, 2000 -- A controversial proposal to reform the DPP's independence platform was swept back quietly under the carpet yesterday by the party's Central Executive Committee, which sent it to the policy research department for further review.
  • WESTERN MEDIA CRITICIZED FOR MISSING THE POINT ON CHINA, TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 23 March 2000 -- Beijing mentioned "equality" in the white paper, meaning that further talks between the two sides would be on equal footing and not set up under the previous scenario of central government versus local government.
  • Text: Gilman on Taiwan President-elect Chen's Reconciliation Effort 23 March 2000 -- The Chairman of the House International Relations Committee praised the people of Taiwan on a very successful election and for "taking another step in consolidating their democratic evolution."
  • US - TAIWAN - CHINA Voice of America 23 March 2000 -- Critics say the United States should make clear it would come to Taiwan's defense if the island came under attack by Beijing - in his words, replace the policy of `strategic ambiguity' with `strategic clarity'.
  • CHINA-TAIWAN-US Voice of America 23 March 2000 -- China has declared its opposition to a suggestion that Taiwanese president-elect Chen Shui-bian visit the United States before his inauguration next May.
  • TAIWAN / POLITICS Voice of America 23 March 2000 -- Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui has decided to quit as leader of the island's ruling Nationalist party.
  • TAIWAN - CHINA Voice of America 22 March 2000 -- The party of Taiwan's newly elected president, Chen Shui-bian is meeting Wednesday to discuss dropping its long-standing support for independence from China.
  • Text: Senator Murkowski Calls Chen Election a Victory for Democracy 22 March 2000 -- Saying he supported "measures to maintain Taiwan's security in the face of threatening words and actions by the Mainland," Murkowski added that "an effective trade relationship is an important factor in reducing threatening behavior."
  • MCCAIN SUPPORTS MISSILES FOR TAIWAN AS 'VIGOROUS RESPONSE' TO BEIJING [CNA Taiwan] 22 March 2000 -- US Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that the United States must have a vigorous response to Beijing's continued threats against Taiwan, including development of sea-borne missile defense systems for the Taiwanese.
  • US SEES NO UNUSUAL MILITARY ACTION IN TAIWAN STRAIT [CNA Taiwan] 22 March 2000 -- The United States has observed no irregular military preparations on either side of the Taiwan Strait, said Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon on Tuesday.
  • NO SIGN OF DRILLS BY MAINLAND CHINESE TROOPS: MND [CNA Taiwan] 21 March 2000 -- The officials said that "a few" mainland and Hong Kong vessels in the area are fishing boats operating in their traditional springtime fishing grounds.
  • TAIWAN-CHINA Voice of America 21 March 2000 -- In a gesture to China, Taiwan's parliament has voted to modify a 50-year-old ban on direct trade and transportation links between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
  • TAIWAN'S ELECTIONS Voice of America 20 March 2000 -- For many years, Mr. Chen and his Democratic Progressive Party called for independence from the mainland. But the president-elect, who will take office on May 20, has recently moderated his position, saying that no declaration of independence is needed because Taiwan is already sovereign.
  • WASHINGTON POST: TAIWAN SHOULD BE FREE TO DECIDE ITS OWN FATE [CNA Taiwan] 20 March 2000 -- Increasingly, the newspaper concluded, "the question confronting the Clinton administration is how to keep the peace in a world where China seems more and more determined to divert attention from internal problems through international assertions."
  • SOUTHERN MAINLAND CHINA DOES NOT WANT WAR WITH TAIWAN: REPORT [CNA Taiwan] 20 March 2000 -- The majority of people in northern mainland China said independence would lead to war.
  • Taiwan's military stays on 'heightened alert' Taiwan News March 20, 2000 -- A state of "heightened alert" announced by Taiwan's armed forces on the eve of the island's presidential election will continue indefinitely, the military said yesterday.
  • Prospects for cross-strait ties discussed United Daily News March 20, 2000 -- University of Maryland law Professor Chiu Hungdah believes that in the short term the mainland will wait to hear to what Chen says, and will be especially interested to see what he does. In particular, Beijing will be concerned to see that no moves are taken toward Taiwan independence.
  • NO `UNUSUAL PHENOMENON' ACROSS STRAIT AFTER ROC ELECTION [CNA Taiwan] 20 March 2000 -- ) No "unusual phenomenon" occurred across the Taiwan Strait in the immediate wake of the island's March 18 presidential election.
  • THOUSANDS OF MAINLAND CHINESE FISHING BOATS BLOCKADING ROC ISLANDS [CNA Taiwan] 20 March 2000 -- Nearly one thousand mainland Chinese fishing boats have reportedly converged since Sunday on the Pratas Islands, a Republic of China-controlled outpost in the South China Sea. The spokesman disagreed with a report that over one hundred PLA air force jets have flown from the southern province of Guangdong to the neighboring province of Fujian.
  • CHEN'S TOP, URGENT PRIORITY IS TO DISPEL INDEPENDENCE WORRY: SCHOLAR [CNA Taiwan] 20 March 2000 -- Chen, against whom Beijing launched pre-election verbal assaults due to his pro-independence bent, risks leading the volatile cross-strait relations to new uncertainties if he does not act fast to defuse anxiety over the separatism advocated by the DPP.
  • TAIWAN-CHINA Voice of America 20 March 2000 -- Taiwan President-elect Chen Shui-bian has for the first time agreed to discuss with Chinese leaders China's insistence that Taiwan accept the idea that there is only one China.
  • TAIWAN / CHINA Voice of America 20 March 2000 -- For Mr. Chen to say he is willing to discuss the "one China" issue is a major change. The president-elect backed away from his espousal of formal independence for Taiwan during the campaign -- saying the issue was moot because Taiwan is already independent anyway.
  • TAIWAN / ASIA MARKETS Voice of America 20 March 2000 -- Uncertainty dominated Taipei's stock market Monday, following the victory of opposition leader Chen Shui-bian. But while Taiwan's market suffered a two-point-six percent loss, other Asian markets were little affected by the election results.
  • CHEN IS BETTER POSITIONED TO CUT DEAL WITH BEIJING, SAYS US EXPERT [CNA Taiwan] 19 March 2000 -- Robert A. Manning, director of Asian Studies at the US Council on Foreign Relations, said that Chen is "better positioned to cut a deal" with the mainland than President Lee Teng-hui and other previous national leaders.
  • ROC PRESIDENT-ELECT VOWS TO EASE CROSS-STRAIT TENSION [CNA Taiwan] 19 March 2000 -- Republic of China President-elect Chen Shui-bian has promised to take the initiative to ease tension across the Taiwan Strait.
  • TAIWAN ELECT - INTERNATIONAL REACT Voice of America 19 March 2000 -- Following Taiwan's presidential election, some countries are urging Taiwan and mainland China to resume their dialogue and contribute to regional stability.
  • TAIWAN DEMOS Voice of America 19 March 2000 -- Taiwanese riot police have clashed with thousands of angry demonstrators demanding President Lee Teng-hui resign as party chairman of the long-ruling Nationalist Party.
  • CLINTON - TAIWAN Voice of America 18 March 2000 -- President Clinton is congratulating the winner of Taiwan's presidential election, Chen Shui-bian, who has in the past called for the island's independence from China.
  • STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT March 18, 2000 -- During the election, all the candidates made clear their hope for restoration of constructive dialogue with the People's Republic of China. I believe the election provides a fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue.
  • PROFILE: CHEN SHUI-BIAN Voice of America 18 March 2000 -- Chen Shui-bian, who has just won election as Taiwan's president, is a one-time advocate of independence for his island and a constant thorn in China's side.
  • TAIWAN - CHEN WINS Voice of America 18 March 2000 -- Chen said China and Taiwan have a common ancestry and can open a new era of peace through increased exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
  • TAIWAN - CHEN WINS Voice of America 18 March 2000 -- Opposition candidate Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party has been elected president of Taiwan.
  • TAIWAN VOTES Voice of America 18 March 2000 -- Most of the attention is on Mr. Chen, who is disliked by China for his past advocacy of formal independence for Taiwan. Even though he has moved away from that position, China has warned the island's voters not to choose him as their next president.
  • MAC HOPES FOR NEW SITUATION IN TAIWAN STRAIT AFTER ELECTION [CNA Taiwan] 18 March 2000 -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Su Chi on Saturday urged mainland Chinese authorities to help create a peaceful "win-win" situation across the Taiwan Strait after Taiwan's presidential election.
  • BIOGRAPHY OF CHEN SHUI-BIAN [CNA Taiwan] 18 March 2000 -- During his two terms as legislator from 1989-1994, Chen earned a reputation as an aggressive critic of the ruling Kuomintang, but was nevertheless elected convenor of National Defense Committee, a seat usually held by the ruling party.
  • NO ATTACK BY MAINLAND CHINA, NO TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE: CHEN [CNA Taiwan] 18 March 2000 -- Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian reiterated on Saturday said he will not promote a plebiscite to determine Taiwan's future if mainland China restrains itself from using force against Taiwan.
  • ALL QUIET IN TAIWAN STRAIT ON ELECTION DAY [CNA Taiwan] 18 March 2000 -- ROC armed forces are still on high alert and are closely monitoring any movement by mainland Chinese troops in case of any accidental events, the ministry's Office of Military Spokesman said.
  • Washington Post urges end to ambiguity March 17, 2000 -- In an opinion piece published yesterday, the Washington Post compares mainland Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to a "Mafia kingpin" because of his recent threats to Taiwan ahead of the island's presidential election. The article also advises the White House to clarify its stance on defending Taiwan.
  • Beijing's belligerence seen as sign of instability Liberty Times March 17, 2000 -- Lin Chung-pin, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council and a professor of political science at National Sun Yat-sen University, said yesterday that mainland Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji recent remarks about Taiwan could indicate instability within the Communist regime.
  • TAIWAN ELECTION-CHINA Voice of America 17 March 2000 -- Beijing stepped up its threats to the island after Taiwanese media reports indicated that Mr. Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party -- or DPP -- has pulled ahead of his rivals in recent days.
  • TAIWAN ELECTION Voice of America 17 March 2000 -- Mr. Chen has picked up endorsements from the country's most respected scientist, several top businessmen and two former advisors of Nationalist President Lee Teng-hui. And the local news media now say he has pulled ahead of his rivals.
  • TAIWAN CANDIDATES Voice of America 17 March 2000 -- Mr. Chen's detractors call the 48-year-old farmer's son arrogant, chameleon-like (changeable) and a warmonger. His Democratic Progressive Party advocates formal independence from China, although he has taken a softer stance during the campaign.
  • TAIWAN GOES TO POLLS AMID SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY [CNA Taiwan] 17 March 2000 -- Alarmed at the prospect of a victory for Chen, mainland Chinese officials, from Premier Zhu Rongji on down, have in the past few days bombarded Taiwan with blunt ultimatums to choose war or peace, in an apparent attempt to scare voters away from Chen.
  • TAIWAN STEPS UP MILITARY ALERT BEFORE SATURDAY'S ELECTION [CNA Taiwan] 17 March 2000 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Friday that the military has stepped up its alert for any emergency that might arise before or after Saturday's presidential election, but has not heightened war preparedness.
  • SITUATION IN TAIWAN STRAIT WORRISOME: US ADMIRAL [CNA Taiwan] 17 March 2000 -- Admiral Dennis Blair, commander of the US Pacific Command, said on Thursday that the security situation across the Taiwan Strait is a troubling development in Asia.
  • US URGES CHINA TO REMAIN CALM IN FACE OF TAIWAN ELECTION [CNA Taiwan] 17 March 2000 -- The United States reiterated Thursday its firm position of rejecting use of force to resolve cross-Taiwan Strait differences and urged Chinese leaders to be prudent and patient.
  • TAIWAN-CHINA Voice of America 16 March 2000 -- Taiwan's defense minister has ordered his troops to step up their vigilance following a second day of threats from China in the run-up to the island's presidential election.
  • TAIWAN YOUTH VOTE Voice of America 16 March 2000 -- In Taiwan, a generation that sees itself more Taiwanese than Chinese is coming of age. Many of these young people want independence from Beijing and are supporting presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian and his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.
  • US PACIFIC FORCES READY TO DEFEND TAIWAN'S SECURITY: BLAIR [CNA Taiwan] 16 March 2000 -- The commander of the US Pacific Command said on Wednesday that US Pacific forces are ready and capable of carrying out their current responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
  • MAINLAND POLICY A VITAL ISSUE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION [CNA Taiwan] 16 March 2000 -- DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian said in his campaign platform that Taiwan and mainland China should make more efforts to improve the strained cross-strait relations. The two sides should develop an institutionalized relationship, Chen suggested.
  • CHINA - TAIWAN ELECTION Voice of America 16 March 2000 -- In the past several weeks, Beijing has several times suggested that if reunification talks do not restart, or if there is any official pronouncement after the election of independence, China might try unification by force.
  • ZHU'S WARNING MOST SEVERE YET: KMT OFFICIAL [CNA Taiwan] 15 March 2000 -- Mainland Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji speech on cross strait issue was Beijing's most severe warning yet to Taiwan's independence advocates, a ruling Kuomintang official said on Wednesday.
  • SOONG PROMISES DIALOGUE WITH BEIJING IF ELECTED [CNA Taiwan] 15 March 2000 -- Independent presidential candidate James Soong reiterated on Wednesday his willingness to open dialogue with Beijing as a way of easing tension across the Taiwan Strait.
  • TAIWAN-CHINA Voice of America 15 March 2000 -- Taiwan has told Beijing to mind its own business concerning the island's upcoming election. The angry Taiwanese reply followed Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's warning to Taiwan's voters to shun pro-independence candidates when they head to the polls Saturday.
  • Text: House International Relations Chairman on Taiwan, China Threats 15 March 2000 -- Representative Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, criticized China's recent statements concerning the upcoming Taiwan election as "unacceptable" and "contemptible threats."
  • Admiral leans toward missile defense system for Taiwan PAMELA HESS United Press International March 15, 2000 -- Taiwan already owns the Patriot PAC-2 system, but it is not designed to be an anti-missile weapon, according to John Pike, a senior analyst with the Washington, D.C.-based Federation of American Scientists.
  • TAIWAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN Voice of America 15 March 2000 -- The three-man horse race involves Vice-President Lien Chan of the ruling Nationalist Party, Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, and James Soong - a former Nationalist stalwart running as an independent.
  • TAIWAN ELECTION SCENESETTER Voice of America 14 March 2000 -- Opposition standard-bearer Chen Shui-bian appears to be building enough momentum to pull ahead of his rivals.
  • US EXPERT WARNS OF CONFLICT IN TAIWAN STRAIT [CNA Taiwan] 13 March 2000 -- "(Mainland Chinese) President Jiang Zemin has declared in recent months that he intends to make reunification of the motherland his legacy" and "senior Chinese military officials now speak openly about a 'fixed timetable' for reunification," Kagan said in a column in Sunday's Washington Post.
  • NAVY TO RESTORE ORDER FOR 8TH PERRY-CLASS FRIGATE [CNA Taiwan] 13 March 2000 -- The China Shipbuilding Corp. (CSBC) is preparing to resume construction of an eighth Perry-class frigate for the Republic of China Navy after the order was put on hold for two years.
  • MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin March 10, 2000 Press Conference -- Psychological warfare, closely related to high-tech warfare, focuses on the manipulation of media. During mid-July 1999 to mid-February 2000, there were 173 times of the Hong Kong media reported or printed news and analyzed the PRC's possible military actions against Taiwan, with a total of 259 story items.
  • PREMIER WARNS OF WAR SCENARIO IN TAIWAN STRAIT [CNA Taiwan] 10 March 2000 -- Taiwan will run the risk of war if cross-strait relations are not handled properly, Premier Vincent Siew said on Friday.
  • COLUMNIST URGES US SALE OF DEFENSIVE WEAPONS TO TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 09 March 2000 -- Paul Greenberg urged the United States government to provide Taiwan with the new defensive weapons it needs to deter a Communist Chinese invasion, saying that "an ounce of deterrence now might prevent a world of aggression later."
  • COHEN / TAIWAN Voice of America 09 March 2000 -- U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says the current tensions between Taiwan and China are not likely to escalate into major military actions.
  • CHINA-US-TAIWAN Voice of America 09 March 2000 -- China says it is deeply concerned over reports that the United States is prepared to sell 162 Hawk anti-aircraft missiles and equipment needed to upgrade an aging radar system to Taiwan.
  • TAIWAN / ELECTION Voice of America 08 March 2000 -- With Taiwan's presidential election less than two weeks away, polls show the main candidates in a virtual three-way tie.
  • US REACTED FIRMLY TO BEIJING'S WHITE PAPER: US OFFICIAL [CNA Taiwan] 08 March 2000 -- A senior US Defense Department official said on Tuesday that the US has responded with the firmest possible commitment to the challenge of Beijing's white paper on Taiwan, in order to preserve peace and stability.
  • PENTAGON ANNOUNCES POSSIBLE HAWK MISSILE SALE TO TAIWAN [CNA Taiwan] 08 March 2000 -- The US Department of Defense announced on Tuesday the possible sale to Taiwan of 162 HAWK Intercept Aerial guided missiles and peripheral equipment at an estimated cost of US$106 million.
  • CLINTON SAYS ANY ARMS SALES MUST BE IN LINE WITH TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT [CNA Taiwan] 08 March 2000 -- US President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that any decision he makes on arms sales to Taiwan has to be in line with the Taiwan Relations Act and with general US policy in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Lien reaffirms Lee's mainland policy March 7, 2000 The China Post Vice President Lien Chan said yesterday he would expect ties with Beijing to be conducted on a "state-to-state' basis.
  • DEFENSE MINISTER INSPECTS KINMEN AMID BEIJING'S BELLIGERENT RHETORIC [CNA Taiwan] 07 March 2000 -- Barring unexpected developments, Tang also said, the military is unlikely to deploy more troops in Kinmen. Tang said there is no difference between the front and the rear in modern warfare as the enemy can now launch its first attack from any point.
  • PUNISHING CHINA FOR THREATS FALLS TO US CONGRESS: EDITORIAL [CNA Taiwan] 07 March 2000 -- Since the Clinton administration is helpless to prevent cross-strait military conflict because of its engagement policy, it will fall to Congress to punish Beijing for its latest threat against Taiwan, beginning with the passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act.
  • TAIWAN ISSUE IS NOT AN INTERNAL ISSUE OF CHINA, SAYS EX-CANDIDATE [CNA Taiwan] 06 March 2000 -- Peng said that both the KMT and DPP claim that the Republic of China on Taiwan is an independent nation having its own sovereignty, and that there is no need for Taiwan to declare independence, nor is it necessary to include independence in the Constitution.
  • LIEN CALLS FOR NEW APPROACH IN HANDLING CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS [CNA Taiwan] 06 March 2000 -- Dispelling speculation that he would toe President Lee's line, Lien reaffirmed that he will pursue his own path, stressing that if elected, he will "have the full responsibility and power" to handle top policy issues concerning national security and the welfare of the people.
  • POLLS FIND PRESIDENTIAL RACE REMAINS TIGHT CNA-Taiwan 05 March 2000 -- Two new public opinion polls have found that the ongoing presidential race remain very tight, with the three leading candidates still running neck-and-neck.
  • McCAIN WARNS CHINA OF CONSEQUENCES IF IT INVADES TAIWAN CNA-Taiwan 04 March 2000 -- US Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) warned Communist China Friday against its latest threat to invade Taiwan, saying Beijing would face consequences far greater than anything they might gain from such an action.
  • TAIWAN KEEPS MUM OVER US ARM SALES CNA-Taiwan 03 March 2000 -- Taipei kept mum on Friday over reports that Washington is inclined to reject Taiwan's offer to buy four US warships. US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott urged US President Bill Clinton on Thursday to give Taiwan ground- and sea-based early-warning radar equipment.
  • TAIWAN / U-S Voice of America 03 March 2000 -- Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth says the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act would be destabilizing.
  • TAIWAN SECURITY / U-S Voice of America 02 March 2000 -- Already tense relations between Taiwan and China could be strained further as a result of a decision expected soon on United States weapons sales to the island.
  • US TO SELL TAIWAN DATA LINKS FOR 2ND-GENERATION WARPLANES CNA-Taiwan 02 March 2000 -- United States will approve Taiwan's request to purchase three additional upgraded Patriot missile systems for deployment in central and southern parts of the island. The ROC has already purchased three sets of Patriot PAC-2 Plus anti-missile systems, which have been deployed in densely populated northern Taiwan. The United States is also expected to endorse sales of long-range early warning radar systems.
  • Arms requests test for US policy China Times 02 March 2000 -- Debate is continuing within the Clinton administration on the sale of Aegis-equipped warships to Taiwan, but it now seems likely that the U.S. president will reject the sale. Even if the U.S. approves the Aegis sale, delivery of the first ship would not occur for five years, while it would be several more years before ROC navy personnel would be able to handle the equipment properly.
  • 'One China' vs. 'two states' The China Post 02 March 2000 -- Both governments decided to conveniently avoid the touchy issue of recognizing each other's authority by agreeing that each side would be allowed to issue its own definition of what "one China" meant, effectively agreeing to disagree on the subject so that practical talks could proceed. Each side originally agreed to let the other define "one China" as it pleased.
  • Lien sees no policy conflict with Lee The China Post 01 March 2000 -- Vice President Lien Chan said yesterday his proposed return to the "one China" principle does not clash with the "special state-to-state" claim in addressing the sovereignty row with Beijing. Critics have nevertheless questioned Lien's sincerity to continue Lee's legacy, citing as evidence the fact that he employs several strategists known for their criticism of Lee.
  • A consequence of the PRC military threat The China Post 01 March 2000 -- Lien's recent announcement that he, if elected, will be willing to return to a 1992 tacit agreement Taipei reached with Beijing. This agreement requires both Taipei and Beijing to adhere to a one-China principle, but it allows each side the freedom to state its own perception of China.
  • 'One-China' and international law, United Daily News, 01 March 2000 -- Commentary by Hungdah Chiu, member of the ROC's National Unification Council and president of the International Law Association, on the White Paper "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue" publ;ished by the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
  • PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Free China Review VOL.50 NO.3 - March 2000



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