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PRC MILITARY THREAT HAS NOT LESSENED OVER PAST FOUR YEARS: PRESIDENT

2004-02-29 16:01:10

    Taipei, Feb. 29 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Sunday that the Chinese communist military threat toward Taiwan has not been alleviated over the past four years.

    Addressing the opening of an international symposium on Taiwan's national defense, Chen said the country's national defense is a firewall against the People's Liberation Army's military attempts.

    Chen said that since he spelled out his "four noes plus one" pledge during his inauguration in 2000 as a gesture of goodwill to mainland China, he has not seen the PRC reduce its military threat toward Taiwan.

    On the contrary, he added, the PRC arms buildup, particularly its missile deployment targeting Taiwan, has increased rapidly over the past four years.

    The PLA's speedy modernization, particularly the improving of the precision of its ballistic missiles and its large-scale deployment of missiles, are all factors contributing to the increasing changes in the military balance across the Taiwan Strait, Chen noted.

    Chen quoted military intelligence as indicating that the number of the PLA's tactical guided missiles increased 11-fold between 1995 and 2003 and is still rising at the rate of one every six days.

    Facing Beijing's ever-mounting military threat, he added, the Taiwan people must consolidate and jointly throw their support behind the armed forces, while the government accelerates the modernization of the military, including the building of anti-missile preparedness.

    Chen stressed that the factor of "people" stills plays an important role in efforts to upgrade Taiwan's overall defense capability and competitiveness. Thus, seeking to raise the caliber of military personnel is one of the goals of national defense reform, he added.

    As commander of the Republic of China armed forces, Chen said, it is his responsibility to ensure that Taiwan's national security is well protected. He added that he will refer to professional expertise from the Ministry of National Defense whenever making comments regarding military affairs.

    Still, he said, he cannot agree with some of the "empty promises" made by his presidential election rival about the nation's military recruitment and conscription policy.

    Chen said that while he has advocated a system of recruitment for 10 years, he has also insisted that the policy on calling and maintaining a standing army must be implemented step-by-step, with the country's national security being the top and ultimate goal.

    Chen's rival, "pan-blue alliance" presidential candidate Lien Chan said in a debate with Chen last week that he advocates a system of recruitment or drafting for the armed forces that would encourage more career soldiers and that compulsory military service should be shortened to three months instead of the current 20 months.

    Commenting on Lien's remarks, Chen said Lien was issuing a campaign check that is bound to bounce.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/J