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MILITARY ON FULL ALERT AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL POLL: MND

2004-03-16 21:12:50

    Taipei, March 16 (CNA) The military has heightened its alert in the run-up to the March 20 presidential election and Taiwan's first nationwide referendum to be held simultaneously, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.

    Speaking at a regular MND news conference, Maj. Gen. Huang Suey-sheng said the ministry is also closely watching mainland China's military movements, particularly the activities of its submarine fleet and missile units.

    So far, Huang said, the MND has not detected any abnormal mainland military deployments.

    Huang said the armed forces will go on a 39-hour heightened alert to help ensure that the presidential election and the referendum on missile defense and relations with the mainland proceed smoothly.

    Noting that the military's main role is to allow voters to "cast their sacred ballots" in a safe and stable environment, Huang said, the military will be at "heightened levels of alert" in the 39 hours beginning 5 p.m. March 19 and ending at 8 a.m. March 21. "If any abnormalities are detected, the military will react swiftly according to contingency plans, " Huang said without elaborating.

    Beijing has objected to the referendum, which it considers a first step toward an eventual vote on de jure Taiwan independence. The island's fraught relations with the mainland have figured prominently in the tight presidential contest between incumbent President Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, and his sole challenger, opposition Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J