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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

19 February 2003

Text: U.S. Official Urges Balanced Approach to PRC-Taiwan Differences

(Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Schriver's remarks Feb. 14)
(2200)
Taiwan must focus on both careful self-defense planning and continued
dialogue with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in order to reduce
tensions across the Taiwan Strait, says Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randall Schriver.
Schriver told participants of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council's
Defense Industry Conference February 14 that the United States is
"committed to make available defensive arms and defensive services to
Taiwan in order to help Taiwan meet its self-defense needs."
"A secure and self-confident Taiwan is a Taiwan that is more capable
of engaging in political interaction and dialogue with the PRC," he
stressed to the audience in San Antonio, Texas.
He urged Taiwan "to take the steps needed to acquire defensive weapons
and systems sufficient to address the ever increasing threat posed by
the PRC."
Schriver said essential reforms are needed within Taiwan's military to
achieve "greater efficiency in joint operations, ensure a modernized
force structure, and strengthen civilian control."
In addition, he spoke of "the realities of deterring and defending
Taiwan against modern air and sea forces" from across the Taiwan
Strait.
Besides being "vulnerable to air and missile threats from the PRC,"
Schriver said, "Taiwan's lack of an integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare
(ASW) capability is another vulnerability."
"Modernization of Taiwan's command and control architecture continues
to be a key priority," he added.
Schriver noted that U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation is "healthy and
robust."
The United States is careful, he added, to provide weapons to Taiwan
that are "defensive in nature and which would not destabilize the
cross-Strait situation."
Schriver gave assurances that the United States "will not improve our
relations with China at Taiwan's expense."
Schriver also said the Bush administration was grateful for Taiwan's
support in the war against terrorism.
Terrorism, he said, "is a worldwide problem which will continue to
require a response from nations on every continent."
Following is the text of Schriver's prepared remarks:
(begin text)
Remarks by Randall Schriver 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State For East Asian and Pacific Affairs
US-Taiwan Business Council 
Defense Industry Conference 
San Antonio, Texas 
February 14, 2003
(Remarks as prepared for delivery)
Secretary Cohen, Vice Minister Chen, distinguished guests, I am
honored to speak to you today. I want to thank the U.S. Taiwan
Business Council for giving me this opportunity to address you and
comment on issues that are of great interest to both the U.S. and
Taiwan.
When this council met last year, we were in the early stages of our
campaign against global terrorism. From then to now, we remain united
in the fight against terrorism. We have had support from friends
around the world. And I say with sincere gratitude, that includes our
friends in Taiwan. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was among the first
world leaders to express his support for the United States after
September 11. On behalf of A/S Kelly, I would like to express once
again our thanks to President Chen and his representatives here, Vice
Minister Chen and Representative C.J. Chen, for Taiwan's continuing
and steadfast support to our country in these challenging times.
Taiwan has taken important steps in its commitment to the global war
on against terrorism. Terrorism is a worldwide problem which will
continue to require a response from nations on every continent. There
are many dangers still facing us. Last week, Secretary of State Powell
laid out our case against Iraq's ongoing efforts to develop weapons of
mass destruction and continued violations of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1441. On the Korean peninsula, we continue to work
with our allies and regional neighbors for a diplomatic solution to
North Korea's nuclear weapons development. We appreciate Taiwan's
support on these issues and its acknowledgement that weapons of mass
destruction are a grave threat to the peace and stability of the world
as well as Taiwan's commitment to support the U.S.-led global war on
terrorism operations.
Taiwan is also, as our colleagues in private industry know well, a key
economic power in the region and the world. It is the U.S.' eighth
largest trading partner. As of November 2002, the U.S. exported 16.9
billion dollars worth of goods to Taiwan, and imported $29.4 billion.
Taiwan is a world leader in several key IT areas such as notebook
computers, LCD displays, and associated technologies. Taiwan is also
positioning itself to be a player in emerging fields like
biotechnology.
While there are many variables in the global environment as we work to
bring together cooperative efforts to achieve our common purpose, a
constant in this environment continues to be the mutual friendship
between the people of the United States and Taiwan. Our policy towards
Taiwan and the PRC has not changed. Our policy has been consistent for
over more than 20 years. It is articulated in the Taiwan Relations
Act, the Three U.S.-China joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.
It has not changed. It will not change.
America's best interests and those of peoples on both sides of the
Taiwan Strait are advanced by a candid, constructive and cooperative
relationship between the United States and the PRC. We have some
continuing differences with the PRC. Our interaction with the PRC on
these matters serves global interests. We believe that it also
strengthens mutual understanding between our two countries and
supports U.S. and Taiwan interests in security, stability, and
prosperity.
But let me reiterate what A/S Kelly has said many times: we will not
improve our relations with China at Taiwan's expense. We seek the
reduction of cross-Strait tensions. We have called on the PRC to
renounce the use of force and reduce military deployments targeted
against Taiwan. We encourage the PRC to show more transparency in this
area to build trust and reduce tensions across the Taiwan Strait. We
are convinced we can do this as we pursue with the PRC a broad range
of U.S. strategic interests ranging from human rights,
counter-terrorism and non-proliferation to regional stability and
trade.
The U.S. has an abiding interest, above all else, in the peaceful
resolution of cross-Strait differences. It is our fundamental
objective in our relations with Taiwan and the PRC. To that end, we
are very encouraged by the expansion of peaceful, mutually beneficial
cross-Strait interactions in the areas of trade, investment, culture,
and education.
Our position continues to be embodied in the so-called "six
assurances" offered to Taiwan by President Reagan. We will neither
seek to mediate between the PRC and Taiwan, nor will we exert pressure
on Taiwan to come to the bargaining table. Of course, the United
States is also committed to make available defensive arms and
defensive services to Taiwan in order to help Taiwan meet its
self-defense needs. A secure and self-confident Taiwan is a Taiwan
that is more capable of engaging in political interaction and dialogue
with the PRC.
The United States has provided Taiwan with a significant quantity of
defensive weapons over the last twenty years, and during that period
has been Taiwan's most reliable supplier of weapons. We continue to
fulfill our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide for
Taiwan's legitimate defensive needs. We have assisted Taiwan's
military modernization program. In doing so, the United States is
careful to provide weapons that are defensive in nature and which
would not destabilize the cross-Strait situation.
The U.S. Government remains committed to maintaining our dialogue with
Taiwan about its national security. The process through which we
review Taiwan's defensive requirements has evolved from the annual
Arms Sales Talks to a more normal process. This new framework for
dialogue more effectively meets our respective practical requirements.
We continue to work with Taiwan on determining the defensive
capabilities it will need in the medium- to long-term.
The U.S.-Taiwan relationship, although not formal, has succeeded in
enhancing Taiwan's security and regional stability. Our military
cooperation is healthy and robust. We both have a fundamental interest
in the stability of the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful resolution of
differences. Taiwan's ability to defend itself is essential to create
the conditions that are conducive to peaceful dialogue, which
contributes to regional stability as a whole. President Bush has
stated U.S. intent with regard to the PRC's use of force against
Taiwan. At the same time, we expect that there will be no surprises
and no attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan
Strait.
Taiwan's leaders have made it clear that it is committed to a strong
defense, but that Taiwan's security in the long term requires reaching
out to the other side to begin moving toward a peaceful resolution of
cross-Strait differences. The United States supports you in both
efforts.
Taiwan's implementation of the National Defense Law and the revised
Ministry of National Defense Organization Law has brought Taiwan's
military command and administrative structures more clearly under
civilian control. As Taiwan's political and military leaders have
recognized, Taiwan's military needs to reform. There are several
elements of this reform program that are underway and we realize you
are still adjusting to this reorganization as your military carries
out ongoing transitions. But much still needs to be done.
Today's military challenges require coordination across military
service lines and a joint perspective of military operations. This
perspective must be tied into the realities of deterring and defending
Taiwan against modern air and sea forces. The PRC is engaged in an
accelerated force modernization program. Taiwan is vulnerable to air
and missile threats from the PRC. Taiwan's lack of an integrated
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability is another vulnerability. We
urge Taiwan to take the steps needed to acquire defensive weapons and
systems sufficient to address the ever increasing threat posed by the
PRC. Modernization of Taiwan's command and control architecture
continues to be a key priority to achieve this capability.
Additionally, acquiring modern systems for air and missile defense,
and integrated ASW are essential for Taiwan's self-defense as well as
to provide an effective deterrence to potential adversaries. They also
fill critical gaps in your self-defense that would make the difference
in giving you time and preserving your options. Taiwan's efforts to
offset the PLA's increasing capabilities will depend on the vision and
leadership of its civilian and military leaders. Decisions to ensure
Taiwan's deterrent capability will require an effective national
security structure of professional civilians and military officers
prepared to make the right acquisition choices and implement them. In
the area of acquisition and armaments, Taiwan's Ministry of National
Defense (MND) is in the process of developing the expertise and
organization, including a cadre of civilian leaders, that will help to
prioritize weapons acquisitions in an atmosphere of declining budgets.
In support of these efforts we are engaged in a range of interactions
with MND. We want to see Taiwan build a self-defense capability that
is flexible, joint and responsive to civilian control. Through our
dialogue, our two sides are coming to understand better each other's
way of thinking about security issues.
We are greatly interested in the progress of Taiwan's current defense
reforms. This reform program is essential for Taiwan's military to
achieve greater efficiency in joint operations, ensure a modernized
force structure, and strengthen civilian control. The challenge is to
continue to make progress along this path. Taiwan's military doctrine
should enable its forces to be able to respond effectively to the new
and emerging challenges facing Taiwan's security. It must demonstrate
that its armed services can work jointly to counter threats such as
integrated precision air strikes, ballistic and cruise missile
attacks, blockade, information warfare, special operations forces
actions, and electronic warfare. As Taiwan implements reorganization
and reform, we must remember that the full benefits are still years
away. We encourage our friends to implement the actions in the near
term that you need to improve your joint operations capabilities and
readiness.
The differences between the PRC and Taiwan are fundamentally
political, not social, economic, or military. However, Taiwan must be
prepared for military contingencies as a last resort. The United
States has a long-term interest in the peaceful resolution of
cross-strait relationships. We are committed to help create the
conditions for security that are conducive to political freedom and
economic growth. We hope for renewal of cross-Strait dialogue so that
Taiwan and the PRC move closer to their ultimate peaceful resolution
of the differences that separate them.
It is the responsibility of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait
to make that happen. Taiwan's military can help create and ensure the
conditions for security and stability that foster cooperation and
dialogue over coercion and conflict. To the leaders of Taiwan's
defense community gathered here today, your participation in this
conference is an important sign of your commitment to achieve this
goal. Once again, I am honored to have this opportunity to address you
and look forward to the rest of the sessions today.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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