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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


March 2005 Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • NEW CROSS-STRAIT EXCHANGES TO TAKE ANTI-SECESSION LAW INTO ACCOUNT CNA 29 Mar 2005 -- The government's new measures concerning cross-strait exchanges will take into consideration China's recent enactment of the Anti-Secession Law, the vice chairman of the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Tuesday.
  • 'PAN-BLUES' AGAIN BLOCK U.S. ARMS BILL FROM LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CNA 29 Mar 2005 -- Once again, the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the Kuomintang (KMT) , the People First Party (PFP) and the New Party Tuesday block a bill onto the legislative agenda for the purchase of a controversial package of weaponry from the United States.
  • MND CONTINUES PUSHING FOR VOLUNTARY MILITARY SERVICE SYSTEM CNA 29 Mar 2005 -- In efforts to promote a volunteer-based military, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is planning to enlist a total of 6,561 volunteers this year, a MND official said Tuesday.
  • CHINA-KMT VISIT VOA 28 Mar 2005 -- A delegation of Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party is visiting mainland China for the first time since the end of the Chinese civil war 56 years ago.The visit is aimed at easing tensions triggered by China's recent passage of an anti-secession law.
  • TAIWAN PROTEST VOA 26 Mar 2005 -- Hundreds of thousands of people have rallied in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, to protest China's passage this month of an anti-secession law. The law gives Beijing a legal basis to attack Taiwan if it moves toward declaring formal independence.
  • Taiwan: Massive Protest Held Against China's Anti-Secession Law RFE/RL 26 Mar 2005 -- Hundreds of thousands of people chanting "Oppose War, Love Taiwan!" rallied in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, today, in what they called a celebration of democracy.
  • MAC CHIEF SEES NO IMMINENT CRISIS OF CROSS-STRAIT MILITARY CONFLICT CNA 25 Mar 2005 -- The possibility of a military conflict between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait breaking out in the near future is nil, Taiwan's top mainland policy planner said in a recent interview with a Hong Kong daily published Friday.
  • DEFENSE MINISTER DEFENDS URGENT NEED TO PURCHASE SUBMARINES CNA 24 Mar 2005 -- Minister of National Defense Lee Jye defended Thursday a clear need to acquire submarines to safeguard Taiwan, warning that China's navy is building a force with a long range war capability that will pose a serious threat to Taiwan by 2020.
  • TAIWAN-CHINA PROTEST VOA 24 Mar 2005 -- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian says he will take part in a planned mass protest against China's newly enacted anti-secession law. Organizers say they expect more than one million people to join the demonstration in Taipei.
  • P-3C AIRCRAFT TO BOOST MILITARY'S UNDERSEA SURVEILLANCE SCOPE: MND CNA 23 Mar 2005 -- The procurement of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft from the United States will meet the military's minimum combat demand and expand its undersea surveillance scope by more than 10-fold, according to a report presented Wednesday to the legislature by the Ministry of National Defense.
  • U.S. WANT TAIWAN TO COMMIT ON ANTI-SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT BY MAY 1 CNA 23 Mar 2005 -- The United States has asked Taiwan to decide before May whether it intends to buy 12 U.S.-made P-3C anti-submarine aircraft, an Naval official told the Legislative Yuan Wednesday.
  • RUSSIA LOSING OUT TO CHINA IN RUN-UP TO EXERCISE RIA Novosti 23 Mar 2005 -- The planned exercises between Russia and China this fall are becoming a source of increasing concern for Taiwan.
  • US / CHINA / TAIWAN VOA 23 Mar 2005 -- The Bush administration is criticizing as unfortunate and unhelpful China's recent law giving its military a legal basis to attack Taiwan if the island moves toward independence. Asia analysts say the move will increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait and make dialog between Taipei and Beijing more difficult. This Saturday (March 26th) the government of Taiwan has called for one-million people to attend a demonstration in Taipei to protest the new law.
  • MILITARY ASKED TO REVIEW NAVY FLEET'S FLOP IN SINGAPORE CNA 22 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday there is still room for the Ministry of National Defense to improve its visit arrangement for the ROC Navy's "Fleet of Friendship" after the team was recently barred from making a port call in Singapore due to pressure from China.
  • STATUTE FOR ARMS PROCUREMENT FAILS TO REACH AGENDA AT LEGISLATURE CNA 22 Mar 2005 -- A Cabinet-proposed "statute for major arms procurement" failed to be put on the agenda for review at the Legislative Yuan Tuesday because of the opposition from the majority "pan-blue alliance" of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP).
  • MND DETECTS NO ABNORMAL CHINESE MILITARY ACTIVITIES CNA 22 Mar 2005 -- The People's Liberation Army has not conducted abnormal military activities or maneuvering since China's enactment of its so-called Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan, a senior Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Tuesday.
  • DECISION ON WHETHER U.S. DEFENDS TAIWAN UP TO PRESIDENT: U.S. GENERAL CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- It's up to the U.S. president to decide whether the United States will defend Taiwan if China attacks the island, a top U.S. military official said Sunday.
  • RICE URGES CHINA TO COOL CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS CAUSED BY NEW LAW CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Beijing at a news conference Monday to take steps to cool tensions that have flared across the Taiwan Strait since the passage of the Anti-Secession Law, describing the law as an unwelcome piece of legislation.
  • MND DENIES REPORT ABOUT FORMING 400-MEMBER SPECIAL FORCE CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- The Ministry of National Defense Monday denied the existence of any plan to organize an additional elite unit for counter-terrorism or to guard against a "decapitation strike" from China as reported by local media.
  • U.S. MAINTAINS STANCE ON ANTI-SECESSION LAW: CABINET SPOKESMAN CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- The United States has clearly expressed its stance on China's Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to China has not moved away from that position, a spokesman for the Executive Yuan said Monday.
  • MND ACCENTUATES NEED TO PROCURE PATRIOT PAC III CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- Vice Minister of National Defense Huo Shou-yeh accentuated Monday the need for Taiwan to procure the U.S.-made Patriot PAC III anti-missile system, saying if the procurement plan is dropped, Taiwan will be unable to defend itself from China's missile attacks.
  • BEIJING INTENDS TO USE NON-PEACEFUL MEANS AGAINST TAIWAN: MAC CNA 21 Mar 2005 -- The recent enactment of China's Anti-Secession Law shows that Beijing intends to use non-peaceful means to solve the cross-Taiwan Strait dispute, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Monday.
  • TAIWAN CONCERNED OVER RUSSIAN-CHINESE JOINT EXERCISE RIA Novosti 21 Mar 2005 -- Taiwan is concerned over the future Russian-Chinese joint military exercise, Lai Yichong, member of the board of directors of the Taibei-based analytical center "Taiwan", told RIA Novosti.
  • U.S. STICKS TO OBLIGATION UNDER TRA CNA 20 Mar 2005 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated in Tokyo Saturday that Washington will continue to stick to its obligation under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
  • U.S. OFFERS CHEAPER PRICE FOR PATRIOT PAC III: MND REPORT CNA 20 Mar 2005 -- The United States has offered a cheaper price for the Patriot PAC III anti-missile system to be sold to Taiwan, according to a Ministry of National Defense (MND) report sent to the Legislative Yuan Sunday.
  • ARMED FORCES POLICE COMMAND DENIES PRESENCE OF WIRETAPPING CENTER CNA 18 Mar 2005 -- The Armed Forces Police Command (AFPC) has categorically denied the presence of any wiretapping center in the basement of its headquarters in Taipei as reported by the local news media.
  • CHINA'S SUBMARINES IN STRAIT MEAN MORE THAN BLOCKADE: MAC CNA 17 Mar 2005 -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu said Thursday that China's submarine deployment in the Taiwan Strait indicates a "higher strategic ambition" than blockading Taiwan.
  • ROC GRATEFUL FOR U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION AGAINST ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 17 Mar 2005 -- The Republic of China government is grateful for all the support and concern shown by the international community for Taiwan in the wake of China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law, a Presidential Office spokesman said Thursday.
  • U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT NEW BEIJING LAW CNA 17 Mar 2005 -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution by a vote of 424-4 Wednesday expressing the grave concern of the Congress regarding China's recent enactment of its Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan.
  • U.S. URGED TO PRESSURE BEIJING OVER ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 17 Mar 2005 -- The government is hopeful that the United States will continue to put pressure upon China over its newly enacted Anti-Secession Law aimed at Taiwan, Executive Yuan Spokesman Cho Jung-tai said Thursday.
  • CHINA'S ENACTMENT OF ANTI-SECESSION LAW MAY BENEFIT TAIWAN: MINISTER CNA 17 Mar 2005 -- China's recent enactment of the Anti-Secession Law will benefit Taiwan if the nation handles repercussions of the legislation prudently, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said Thursday.
  • CHINA/EU VOA 17 Mar 2005 -- China's Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, has told the European Union that his country wants a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue, despite a new law authorizing force if Taiwan seeks formal independence.
  • ONLY TAIWAN PEOPLE CAN DECIDE NATION'S FUTURE: PRESIDENT CNA 16 Mar 2005 -- In his first public response to the passage of China's Anti-Secession Law, President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that only the 23 million people of Taiwan can decide the island's future and that Beijing has no say in the matter.
  • ALL QUIET ON THE CHINESE FRONT: ROC DEFENSE MINISTRY CNA 16 Mar 2005 -- Nothing militarily out of the ordinary is happening in China and the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense has not upgraded its combat readiness, an ministry official said Wednesday.
  • CHEN REITERATES OFFER OF PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO CROSS-STRAIT DISPUTES CNA 16 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian reiterated Wednesday that Taiwan is willing to resolve disputes between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait through dialogue.
  • CONGRESS/CHINA VOA 16 Mar 2005 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution sharply criticizing China for the approval by the National People's Congress in Beijing of a law authorizing the use of military force against Taiwan in the event of any secession attempt by Taipei.
  • CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW MARKS TURNING POINT FOR TAIWAN: PREMIER CNA 15 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh claimed Tuesday that China's enactment of the Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan is not only a crisis but also a turning point for the nation.
  • ANTI-SECESSION LAW HELPS ENHANCE TAIWAN IDENTITY: PREMIER CNA 15 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday that China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law means both a crisis and an opportunity for Taiwan.
  • TAIWAN WINS INT'L SUPPORT IN DISPUTE WITH CHINA: FOREIGN MINISTRY CNA 15 Mar 2005 -- Taiwan has successfully exposed Beijing's threat against regional security and is winning increasing support from major powers in its dispute with Beijing, according to a report presented to the Legislative Yuan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday.
  • FOREIGN MINISTER URGES E.U. NOT TO LIFT ARMS EMBARGO ON CHINA CNA 15 Mar 2005 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen urged the European Union Tuesday not to lift its arms embargo on China before the human rights situation is improved and a democratic system is implemented there.
  • CHINA-TAIWAN LAW VOA 15 Mar 2005 -- China fired back at critics of its new anti-secession law, which is widely viewed as a license for the mainland to someday attack Taiwan.

  • Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 34 People's Republic of China 14 Mar 2005 -- The following is the full text of the Anti-Secession Law adopted at the Third Session of the Tenth National People's Congress Monday

  • DPP, TSU CONDEMN BEIJING FOR PASSING ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 14 Mar 2005 -- The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) condemned Beijing Monday for passing the Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan, saying the law is causing irreparable damage to the development of cross-strait relations.
  • ROC VP URGES U.N. TO CONDEMN BEIJING OVER ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 14 Mar 2005 -- Visiting Republic of China Vice President Annette Lu urged the United Nations Sunday to stridently condemn China over its enactment of a law authorizing the use of force against Taiwan.
  • CONDEMNATION BEST RESPONSE TO BEIJING'S LAW: MAINLAND AFFAIRS CHIEF CNA 14 Mar 2005 -- The best way to counter China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law is to "unite the international society in condemning it bitterly, " Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu said Monday.
  • RICE/CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 14 Mar 2005 -- The United States Monday branded as unfortunate and unhelpful the adoption by China's parliament of a law giving its military a legal basis to attack Taiwan if the island moved toward independence. The comments came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began her first Asian trip which will include a stop in China early next week.
  • China: Parliament Authorizes Possible Attacks Against Taiwan RFE/RL 14 Mar 2005 -- The Chinese parliament on 14 March passed an antisecession law that authorizes the use of force against Taiwan if it tries to secede from China. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao says the law is designed to advance the peaceful unification of China and Taiwan. But a government spokesman in Taiwan says Beijing must "bear the responsibility and pay a price" for enacting a law that authorizes war.
  • CHINA / TAIWAN VOA 14 Mar 2005 -- China says its anti-secession law, passed Monday at the annual legislative session, is not a license to go war with Taiwan. The law passed unanimously as international concerns mounted over Beijing's possible plans to attack the democratically ruled island.
  • MILITARY CLOSELY MONITORING PLA ACTIVITIES: MND CNA 13 Mar 2005 -- The military is closely monitoring China's military movements after Chinese President Hu Jintao was elected chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission Sunday, replacing Jiang Zemin, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said Sunday.
  • BEIJING LAW COUNTER TO TERMS OF TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT: V.P. LU CNA 13 Mar 2005 -- Visiting Republic of China Vice President Annette Lu said Sunday that Beijing's draft "anti-secession" law targeting Taiwan runs counter to U.S.-China diplomatic ties mandating that China should resolve the Taiwan issue in a peaceful manner.
  • ANTI-SECESSION LAW ABSURD: MAC CNA 12 Mar 2005 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged Beijing Saturday not to enact its "anti-secession law," calling it an absurd law that has stirred up resentment among the people in Taiwan.
  • DPP PASSES 'PROTECT TAIWAN' DECLARATION CNA 12 Mar 2005 -- The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) passed a declaration at a provisional party congress Saturday, reaffirming its commitment to promoting sweeping reform and protecting Taiwan's sovereign status in the face of Beijing's proposed "anti-secession" legislation.
  • CHEN URGES E.U. NOT TO LIFT ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST CHINA CNA 12 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday urged the European Union not to lift its arms embargo against mainland China before Beijing improves its human rights record and implements genuine democracy.
  • ARMS PURCHASE WILL DETER CHINA'S INVASION OF TAIWAN: PREMIER CNA 11 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Friday that the government's proposed NT$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) arms procurement package from the United States will deter a Chinese attack of Taiwan because China "is bound to lose."
  • CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS LIE IN BEIJING'S ONE-CHINA PRINCIPLE: ROC REP CNA 10 Mar 2005 -- The crisis in the Taiwan Strait lies in Beijing's insistence on its "one-China principle, " the Republic of China representative to Britain said Wednesday.
  • LIFTING ARMS BAN AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BEIJING TO ATTACK TAIWAN: CHEN CNA 10 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that if the European Union lifts its ban on arms sales to China, the move will be tantamount to encouraging a non-democratic, non-peaceful country to use force against democratic Taiwan.
  • ARMS PACKAGE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN MILITARY BALANCE: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 10 Mar 2005 -- Minister of National Defense Lee Jye appealed to opposition lawmakers once again Thursday to support the defense ministry's purchase plan for arms from the United States, saying that if no new purchases are made, the cross-strait military balance will severely tilt in China's favor by 2012.
  • U.S. OPPOSES NON-PEACEFUL MEANS ON TAIWAN ISSUE: BOUCHER CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- Commenting on China's proposed anti-secession law, a U.S. State Department spokesman said Tuesday that the United States has always opposed any attempt to determine the future of Taiwan by non-peaceful means.
  • U.S. PACIFIC COMMANDER CALLS ANTI-SECESSION LAW 'DISCONCERTING' CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- China's proposed anti-secession legislation is disconcerting, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command said Tuesday.
  • KMT OPPOSES BEIJING USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN: PARTY CHAIRMAN CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) strongly opposes Beijing's use of force against Taiwan and will do its utmost to secure the welfare of the Taiwan people by upholding the Republic of China Constitution, KMT spokesman Cheng Lee-wen said Wednesday.
  • TAIWAN VOICES CONCERN TO U.S. OVER CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW: MOFA CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has relayed the government's grave concern to Washington over China's proposed anti-secession legislation targeting Taiwan, MOFA spokesman Michel Lu said Wednesday.
  • DEFENSE MINISTER SUPPORTS REFERENDUM ON ARMS PROCUREMENT CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said Wednesday he supports the proposal to hold a referendum on the government's long-stalled massive arms procurement project simultaneously with the May 14 National assembly elections.
  • MND WILL GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO BUYING SUBMARINES: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- Should the special budget required for the purchase of U.S.-made advanced weapons be cut by the legislature, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) will give priority to the procurement of submarines, followed by anti-submarine aircraft and Patriot anti-missile batteries, Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said Wednesday.
  • 'ANTI-SECESSION LAW' EXPOSES BEIJING'S MALINTENTIONS: DPP CNA 09 Mar 2005 -- The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reiterated its opposition Wednesday to China's proposed "anti-secession law, " which it said has exposed Beijing's intent to change unilaterally the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and to disrupt peace in the region.
  • U.S. Expresses Concern on China's Anti-Secession Legislation Washington File 09 Mar 2005 -- Following is the official response to a question on China's proposed anti-secession law taken at the March 8 regular State Department briefing. The proposed legislation would authorize what is described as "non-peaceful" means to achieve reunification with Taiwan, if deemed necessary.
  • U.S./CHINA/TAIWAN VOA 08 Mar 2005 -- The United States has labeled as unhelpful a Chinese draft law that would effectively authorize the use of force against Taiwan if it takes concrete steps toward independence. The State Department says U.S. officials are urging both sides to avoid steps that would raise tensions.
  • US/CHINA MILITARY VOA 08 Mar 2005 -- The new commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, Admiral William Fallon, has expressed concern about the new anti-secession law China's legislature is expected to pass next week.
  • PREMIER SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO COUNTER BEIJING LAW CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday he will not hesitate to support the proposal to phase out the general provisions of the existing Republic of China Constitution if Beijing passes a law that allows it to attack Taiwan anytime and that makes Taiwan a part of the People's Republic of China.
  • U.S.-JAPAN JOINT STATEMENT NOT LINKED TO ANTI-SECESSION LAW: MAC HEAD CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Taiwan's top official in charge of mainland affairs has said the joint statement issued by the United States and Japan in February is a product of China's increasing military power and has nothing to do with Beijing's proposed anti-secession law.
  • MILITARY DRILLS TO GO ON DESPITE BEIJING ANTI-SECESSION LAW:SPOKESMAN CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Taiwan troops remain combat-ready and will start their annual maneuvers as scheduled despite Beijing's proposed "anti-secession law," Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman Liu Chih-chien said Tuesday.
  • KEY POINTS OF BEIJING'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW UNVEILED CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- China unveiled Tuesday the key points of its proposed anti-secession law, including authorizing the State Council and the Central Military Commission to take "non-peaceful" action against Taiwan in certain situations.
  • 'ANTI-SECESSION LAW' EXPOSES CHINA'S INTENT TO INVADE TAIWAN: MAC CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) lodged a strong protest Tuesday at what it called China's attempt to use an "anti-secession law" to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, saying the law has exposed Beijing's intent to take over Taiwan by force.
  • U.S. DOESN'T SUPPORT 'ANTI-SECESSION LAW': MOFA OFFICIAL CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- The United States's stance on China's plan to enact a so-called "anti-secession law" targeting Taiwan is that such legislation will not be beneficial to the situation across the Taiwan Strait, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.
  • PREMIER RULES OUT PRE-CONDITIONS FOR CROSS-STRAIT NEGOTIATIONS CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday that Beijing should not impose any prerequisites for reopening negotiations between Taiwan and mainland China.
  • BEIJING'S ATTEMPT TO CHANGE STATUS QUO SHOULD BE CONDEMNED: VP LU CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Vice President Annette Lu called on the international community Tuesday to condemn China's plan to enact a so-called "anti-secession law" targeting Taiwan, claiming that such legislation will unilaterally challenge and sabotage the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
  • TSU CALLS FOR 'DEFENSIVE REFERENDUM' TO COUNTER ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- Officials of the pro-independence opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) called on President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday to initiate a "defensive referendum" to counteract China's proposed anti-secession law against Taiwan.
  • DPP DELIVERS BROADSIDE AGAINST CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- The leaders of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lambasted China's anti-secession law Tuesday as Beijing's National People's Congress (NPC) was set to pass it, but have not decided whether to organize a large-scale demonstration to protest against it.
  • PRESIDENT MEETS WITH NSC TO COPE WITH ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 08 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian has met with the National Security Council to cope with China's plan to enact an anti-secession law targeting Taiwan, Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday.
  • CHINA-ANTI SECESSION VOA 08 Mar 2005 -- China has unveiled a new anti-secession law that gives Beijing the legal basis to launch an offensive against Taiwan as a last resort.
  • ICE IDENTIFIES SUSPECT IN PRESIDENT'S SHOOTING CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- A man who died in a suspected suicide a year ago has been identified as a suspect in last year's election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu, police said Monday.
  • BREAKTHROUGH IN ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS: CIB HEAD CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- Police reported on Monday progress in the investigations into the mysterious election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu, saying that two men who have since died in separate suspected suicides were probably connected with the shooting.
  • POLICE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO 319 SHOOTING CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- Police said Monday that they will continue to look into suspicious points surrounding the election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian last year, even though they claim to have identified the key suspect in the case.
  • CHINA WON'T SHOW TAIWAN MERCY: ROC FOREIGN MINISTER CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- Foreign Affairs Minister Chen Tan-sun said Monday in Tainan County that the easing of the crisis between Taiwan and China since the "Chen-Soong meeting" is only a "false, short-term phenomenon, " claiming that China will not show mercy in its efforts to suppress Taiwan.
  • PRESIDENT ADMIRES PROGRESS IN 319 SHOOTING PROBE CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian expressed admiration Monday for a special team of prosecutors and police detectives for their efforts in probing the assassination attempt against him on the eve of the March 20 presidential election last year, according to a statement issued through his office.
  • INVESTIGATORS' FINDINGS IN 319 SHOOTING DRAW PARTISAN RESPONSE CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- Political parties reacted along party lines Monday to a special team of investigators' claims that they had identified the the person who might have shot President Chen Shui-bian March 19, 2004.
  • TAIWAN WILL REVIEW POLICY AFTER CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW: OFFICIAL CNA 07 Mar 2005 -- The government will review its policy toward China if it enacts an anti-secession law, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu said Monday.
  • TAIWAN/ASSASINATION VOA 07 Mar 2005 -- Police in Taiwan say they have identified the "most likely" suspect in the attempted assassination of President Chen Shui-bian last year. But the man is dead, and Taiwan's opposition questions whether the truth behind the bizarre election eve shooting will ever be known.
  • ANTI-SECESSION LAW TO MARK WATERSHED IN CROSS-STRAIT TIES: VP CNA 04 Mar 2005 -- Vice President Annette Lu predicted Saturday that the passage of an anti-secession law by China will mark a watershed in cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
  • CHINA NPC-TAIWAN REACT VOA 05 Mar 2005 -- Politicians in Taiwan are bitterly denouncing a proposed Chinese law explicitly forbidding any Taiwanese moves toward independence and large protests are planned for Sunday. The response comes after China placed Taiwan at the top of its annual legislative agenda Saturday.
  • LEGISLATIVE YUAN URGES BEIJING TO RE-THINK ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 04 Mar 2005 -- The Legislative Yuan drafted a statement Friday urging China to re-think its proposed anti-secession law targeting Taiwan.
  • NO NEED FOR TAIWAN TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE: PREMIER CNA 04 Mar 2005 -- Since the ruling Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution regarding Taiwan's future in 1999 when it was still an opposition party, there has been a consensus among party members that the Republic of China is already an independent and sovereign state and that it is not necessary to declare independence from any country, Premier Frank Hsieh said Friday.
  • ANTI-SECESSION LAW WILL AUTHORIZE BEIJING TO USE FORCE: MAC OFFICIAL CNA 04 Mar 2005 -- A legislator of the pro-Taiwan independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) quoted Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Huang Wei-feng as saying Friday that China's proposed anti-secession law would authorize Beijing to use force against Taiwan.
  • DEFENSE MINISTRY TO TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT PUBLICITY FOR U.S. ARMS DEAL CNA 03 Mar 2005 -- The Ministry of National Defense is to increase its publicity and lobbying for a special budget for a major military procurement plan, defense ministry officials said Thursday.
  • GIO CHIEF WELCOMES U.S.-JAPAN CONCERN OVER TAIWAN SECURITY CNA 03 Mar 2005 -- Republic of China Government Information Office (GIO) Director-General Lin Chia-lung welcomed a recent joint U.S.-Japan statement that cited Taiwan as a "joint strategic objective" and said that the two countries have sent a clear anti-war message to Beijing in doing so, a Japanese newspaper reported Thursday.
  • PRESIDENT DECRIES BEIJING'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW CNA 03 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian decried Thursday Beijing's proposed anti-secession law as a dangerous move to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
  • U.S. HAS NO COMMENT ON PRESIDENT'S ASSURANCE OF NO ROC NAME-CHANGE CNA 02 Mar 2005 -- The U.S. State Department declined to comment Tuesday on President Chen Shui-bian's latest remarks that he will not change the official name of his country from the Republic of China to "Republic of Taiwan."
  • TAIWAN RANKS 19TH IN THE WORLD IN DEFENSE SPENDING CNA 02 Mar 2005 -- Taiwan spent US$7.3 billion on national defense in 2003, ranking 19th in the world, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting & Statistics (DGBAS) reported Wednesday.
  • PREMIER URGES BEIJING TO HEED TAIWAN PUBIC OPINION CNA 02 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh urged mainland China Wednesday to heed President Chen Shui-bian's recent comment on the nation's sovereignty and not miscalculate Taiwan public opinion.
  • MND STARTS NEW CAMPAIGN TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR ARMS DEAL CNA 02 Mar 2005 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) started a new campaign Wednesday to drum up support for its proposed purchase of arms from the United States.
  • OFFICIAL WORRIES ABOUT PEOPLE'S REACTION TO 'ANTI-SECESSION LAW' CNA 02 Mar 2005 -- Chiu Tai-san, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) , said Wednesday he is worried that the people of Taiwan will react drastically against mainland China if it moves forward with its "anti-secession law" in defiance of strong disapproval by those on Taiwan.
  • NOTHING BEING RULED OUT ON COUNTERING ANTI-SECESSION LAW: PREMIER CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- The government will not rule out any possibilities on countering Beijing's proposed anti-secession law targeting Taiwan, Premier Frank Shieh said Tuesday.
  • TWO PRO-TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISERS QUIT CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- Two pro-Taiwan independence advisers to President Chen Shui-bian resigned Tuesday to show their displeasure over the president's remarks on the nation's status during his meeting with opposition People First Party Chairman James Soong last Thursday.
  • FATE OF CROSS-STRAIT TIES TO BE DECIDED BY THE PEOPLE: PREMIER CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh said Tuesday that the government will keep its mind open to any possibilities on the eventual development of relations between Taiwan and mainland China and will respect the decision of the 23 million people on the island.
  • PREMIER DEFENDS SPECIAL NT$610.8 BILLION ARMS PROCUREMENT BUDGET CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh on Tuesday spoke in defense of a special budget proposed by the Cabinet for a NT$610.8 billion (US$18.23 billion) arms procurement package from the United States.
  • PRESIDENT URGES E.U. NOT TO LIFT ARMS EMBARGO ON MAINLAND CHINA CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian called on the European Union Tuesday to support Taiwan and not to lift its arms embargo on mainland China.
  • PREMIER DENIES ANY CROSS-STRAIT CONSENSUS ON `ONE CHINA' CNA 01 Mar 2005 -- Premier Frank Hsieh denied Tuesday that Taiwan and mainland China ever reached consensus on the definition of "one China" in their landmark 1992 negotiations in Hong Kong -- the so-called "'92 Consensus."



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