Taiwan Special Weapons - Nuclear, Biological Chemical and Missile Proliferation News

June 2005 Taiwan Special Weapons News

ECONOMIC DISCUSSIONS CAN BRIDGE CROSS-STRAIT GULF: PRESIDENT CHEN CNA 30 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait could consult more with each other over economic matters, a move that would increase mutual trust and create conditions for political reconciliation.
PLA MARINE CAPABILITY STILL INADEQUATE: ROC DEFENSE OFFICIAL CNA 30 Jun 2005 -- The People's Liberation Army's sea combat capability is still inadequate but if it wages "psychological, media and legal warfare" against Taiwan, the country will be under a great threat, a defense official claimed Thursday.
CHINA UNLIKELY TO INVADE TAIWAN IN NEAR TERM: CHINA EXPERT CNA 30 Jun 2005 -- Former U.S. Ambassador to China James Lilley expressed his disapproval Wednesday of a Washington Times report that Beijing might take military action against Taiwan in two years.
BEIJING WILL NOT ATTACK TAIWAN BEFORE 2010: KMT OFFICIAL CNA 30 Jun 2005 -- The likelihood of a military conflict between Taiwan and China before 2010 is slim, thanks partly to the visits to China by two opposition party leaders, an opposition Kuomintang (KMT) official claimed Thursday.
Experts Warn China Capable of Attacking Taiwan VOA 29 Jun 2005 -- American experts are warning that China is rapidly building up its military so that it will have the capability to attack Taiwan, a separately governed island that Beijing considers part of Chinese territory.
PRESIDENT TO PRESIDE OVER MEETING ON NATIONAL SECURITY REPORT CNA 29 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian will preside over a high-level meeting this afternoon to discuss the content of a national security report to be released this summer, a Presidential Office spokesman said Wednesday.
DENT CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR ARMS PROCUREMENT, VOLUNTEER MILITARY CNA 29 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that Taiwan is now at a critical juncture of metamorphosis on many fronts, including constitutional reform, detente across the Taiwan Strait, diplomatic development and upgrading of national defense.
CHIOU'S U.S. VISIT IRRELEVANT TO ARMS PROCUREMENT PROJECT: ENVOY CNA 27 Jun 2005 -- The top ROC representative to the United States confirmed Sunday that Chiou I-jen, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, is currently on a visit in the United States.
SOLID MILITARY FORCE, STRONG WILL KEY TO VICTORY: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 27 Jun 2005 -- National Defense Minister Lee Jye said Monday that a solid military force and strong will to fight are key to victory.
KMT: U.S. ASSESSMENT OF CHINA'S THREAT MAY NOT BE ACCURATE CNA 27 Jun 2005 -- An assessment by U.S. defense and intelligence officials that China might attack Taiwan in two years is not accurate because it does not take into consideration the recent lowering of tension across the Taiwan Strait, a China expert said Monday.
U.S. TO RELEASE REPORT ON CHINA'S MILITARY POWER: ROC ENVOY CNA 27 Jun 2005 -- The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to release a report on China's military buildup around the July 4 U.S. Independence Day, the Republic of China's top representative to the United States said in Los Angeles Sunday.
U.S.-MADE RADAR SYSTEM WILL BOOST DEFENSE CAPABILITY: MND CNA 25 Jun 2005 -- An early warning surveillance radar system to be sold to Taiwan by the United States will boost the country's defense capability significantly, the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday.
CHINA CONTINUES MILITARY DEPLOYMENT AGAINST TAIWAN: MAC CNA 24 Jun 2005 -- China has continued to step up its military buildup against Taiwan, despite having invited two Taiwan opposition leaders to visit China earlier this year, a senior official said Friday.
RAYTHEON WINS CONTRACT TO SUPPLY TAIWAN WITH PHASED ARRAY RADAR CNA 24 Jun 2005 -- Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has won a contract to supply Taiwan with an ultra high frequency phased array radar system to upgrade Taiwan's missile and air defense capabilities, the U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday.
Raytheon Awarded $752 Million U.S. Air Force Contract for Taiwan Early Warning Radar Raytheon 23 Jun 2005 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a not-to-exceed $752 million contract by the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Material Command, Electronic Systems Center (ESC), Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to provide Taiwan with an Early Warning Surveillance Radar System.
ROC FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR UNCONDITIONAL CROSS-STRAIT TALKS CNA 23 Jun 2005 -- Cross-Taiwan Strait dialogue should be conducted using a government-to-government model without any conditions, ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said in an interview with a U.S. newspaper.
VICE DEFENSE MINISTER WARNS AGAINST CHINA'S MILITARY BUILDUP CNA 23 Jun 2005 -- China's military buildup is increasingly threatening global security, particularly after its recent success in the test firing of newly developed submarine-launched 8,000-mile-range JL-2 missile, according to Vice Minister of National Defense Tsai Ming-hsien.
ROC HAS NEVER WAVERED ON TIAOYUTAI SOVEREIGNTY CLAIM: PRESIDENT CNA 22 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday the government has never wavered on its sovereignty claim over the Tiaoyutai Islands, a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea some 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan proper.
TAIWAN FEARS NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA: FOREIGN MINISTER CNA 22 Jun 2005 -- Taiwan is not afraid of negotiating with China and will not rule out opening political talks with Beijing, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said Tuesday.
VOA REPORT ON MAC CHAIRMAN REMARKS REPUDIATED CNA 22 Jun 2005 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) repudiated Wednesday a report by the Voice of America radio station on the MAC chairman's remarks related to cross-Taiwan Strait relations and the possible arrangement of a meeting between the leaders of the two sides.
FORCE SHOULD BE LAST RESORT IN DISPUTE-SETTLEMENT: COAST GUARD CHIEF CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- The military option is the last resort of settling disputes between countries and should not be used in the country's current fishing disputes with Japan, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Minister Shi Hwei-yow said Tuesday.
DEFENSE MINISTER: FISHERY PROTECTION MISSION NOT NAVY'S JOB CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- Fishery protection mission is not the navy's main responsibility, but it would like to show its solidarity with local fishermen in their disputes with Japan over their right to fish in waters northeast of Taiwan, Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said Tuesday.
COAST GUARD TO LAUNCH SPECIAL OPERATIONS TO PROTECT FISHERMEN CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) will launch special operations during fishing seasons to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in disputed waters, CGA Director-General Shi Hwei-yow said Tuesday.
'PAN-GREENS' URGE KMT TO SUPPORT U.S. ARMS PROCUREMENT CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- Lawmakers of the "pan-green camp" of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) urged opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan Tuesday to support their proposal to hold a special legislative session to review the Cabinet-proposed budget for a NT$480 billion (US$15.33 billion) arms procurement package from the United States.
FIGHTERS ON COMBAT TRAINING, NOT ESCORTING FRIGATE MISSION CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- An official of the Hualien Air Base said Tuesday that several fighters were on combat training flights when a Knox-class frigate set sail carrying Minister of National Defense Lee Jye, Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and several legislators to a disputed area northeast of Taiwan.
FRIGATE DEPLOYMENT NOT TO AFFECT TAIWAN-JAPAN FISHING TALKS: MOFA CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- The deployment of a Knox-class frigate on Tuesday to disputed waters in the East China Sea will not lead to conflict between Taiwan and Japan, Michel Lu, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), said Tuesday.
DPP SHOULD BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARMS PROCUREMENT DELAY: KMT HEAD CNA 21 Jun 2005 -- Opposition Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan said in a letter sent recently to a group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party government should bear responsibility for the deadlock that has prevented Taiwan from purchasing U.S. arms.
FRIGATE DEPLOYMENT WILL NOT CAUSE CONFLICT: MND CNA 20 Jun 2005 -- Tuesday's deployment of a Knox-class frigate to a disputed part of the East China Sea where the 200-mile exclusive economic zones of Taiwan and Japan overlap will not cause any conflict, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official predicted Monday.
ROC NAVY FLOTILLA COMPLETES ROUND-THE-WORLD VOYAGE CNA 19 Jun 2005 -- A Republic of China Navy flotilla, which embarked in March on its first round-the-world voyage in a display of long-range sea power, returned to Taiwan Sunday, Navy sources reported.
SENIOR OFFICER CALLS FOR COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE CNA 19 Jun 2005 -- The leader of a Republic of China Navy flotilla which returned from a three-month round-the-world voyage Sunday called for the country to throw its support behind the Navy as well as the development of national defense.
ARMS PROCUREMENT URGENT DUE TO CHINA'S MILITARY THREAT: VICE MINISTER CNA 19 Jun 2005 -- Vice Minister of National Defense Tsai Ming-shian warned over the weekend of China's increased military threat against Taiwan, urging the Legislative Yuan to approve a major arms deal as soon as possible.
SUPREME COURT REJECTS APPEAL TO NULLIFY RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT CNA 17 Jun 2005 -- The Supreme Court rejected Friday an appeal filed by defeated presidential candidate Lien Chan and his running mate James Soong to nullify the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu.
OPPOSITION'S CLAIM AGAINST PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT INVALID: JUDGE CNA 17 Jun 2005 -- The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by defeated presidential candidate Lien Chan and his running mate James Soong to nullify the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu because the plaintiffs have failed to substantiate their claim, the presiding judge said Friday.
PRESIDENT TO GIVE UNPRECEDENTED NATIONAL SECURITY REPORT: AIDE CNA 17 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian will issue a national security report this summer following the lead of the heads of state of the United States and other advanced countries, National Security Council Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said Friday.
NO PROOF TO SHOW PRESIDENT SET UP ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING: COURT CNA 17 Jun 2005 -- Defeated presidential candidate Lien Chan and his running mate James Soong have provided insufficient evidence to back their claim that President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu set up last year's election-eve shooting of themselves, the Supreme Court ruled Friday.
MAC TAKES CHINA'S RESPONSE AS HARBINGER OF RESUMED TALKS CNA 16 Jun 2005 -- Taiwan is willing to regard China's initial response to its initiatives for bilateral talks on two matters of mutual concern as a harbinger of China's willingness to return to the negotiating table, a senior official said Thursday.
DEFENSE MINISTER REAFFIRMS MILITARY'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECT FISHERMEN CNA 16 Jun 2005 -- The military will continue to support the Coast Guard Administration's (CGA's) efforts to protect Taiwanese fishermen and will respond immediately to any situations requiring military backup, National Defense Minister Lee Jye said Thursday.
Will China/Taiwan Economic Ties Lead to Unification? VOA 16 Jun 2005 -- As economic ties between China and Taiwan continue to grow, a group of experts in Washington, brought together by the American Enterprise Institute, discussed what impact cross-straits trade has on the political arena.
TAIWAN CALLS CHINA'S RESPONSE TO ITS INITIATIVES 'FRIENDLY' CNA 15 Jun 2005 -- Taiwan considers China's response to its initiatives for bilateral talks on two issues "friendly," Cho Jung-tai, the spokesman for the Executive Yuan said Wednesday.
MILITARY PLEDGES TO PROTECT TAIWANESE FISHERMEN CNA 15 Jun 2005 -- Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials said Wednesday the military will cooperate with the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) to protect Taiwanese fishermen based on what they called a "non-provocation principle."
MILITARY HAS NO PLANS TO SEND KNOX-CLASS FRIGATE NEAR DISPUTED WATERS CNA 15 Jun 2005 -- The Ministry of National Defense turned down Wednesday a request by an opposition lawmaker that the military send a Knox-class frigate on June 17 to waters near a disputed part of the East China Sea to flex Taiwan's muscle against Japan.
CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS: MAINLAND VISITS CREATE DILEMMA FOR CHEN US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 14 Jun 2005
BEIJING URGED TO NAME GROUPS FOR CROSS-STRAIT TALKS CNA 14 Jun 2005 -- Cabinet spokesman Cho Jung-tai urged China Tuesday to appoint intermediary bodies to negotiate with parallel Taiwan organizations for opening direct charter cargo flights across the Taiwan Strait and other issues of mutual concern.
ARMED FORCES PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE DRILL KICKS OFF CNA 13 Jun 2005 -- An armed forces' psychological warfare drill week kicked off Monday to help the military better understand the threats from enemies, allow the armed forces to know more about modern warfare and strengthen their ability to discern China's non-military warfare.
ARMED FORCES PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE DRILL KICKS OFF CNA 13 Jun 2005 -- National Defense Minister Lee Jye instruct the armed forces Monday to maintain their guard and strengthen their will to fight, saying that China now possesses a more resilient "two-pronged" strategy against Taiwan.
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE DENIES REPORT OF CONTACT WITH CHINA CNA 11 Jun 2005 -- A Presidential Office spokesman denied Saturday a media report that some Beijing messengers have offered to help establish direct contact between Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Chen Shui-bian to pave the way for a cross-Taiwan Strait summit.
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO CROSS-STRAIT PEACE CNA 09 Jun 2005 -- The government's policy toward relations across the Taiwan Strait is to maintain the peaceful status quo and resolve any cross-strait dispute by no other than peaceful means, the Presidential Office said Thursday.
BUSH'S REMARKS EXPECTED TO HAVE DETERRENT EFFECT: SPOKESMAN CNA 09 Jun 2005 -- The government is grateful for U.S. President George W. Bush's reaffirming his commitment to helping defend Taiwan if the country is invaded, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Michel Lu said Thursday.
PRESIDENT CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS OF 2ND ROUND OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS CNA 09 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian expressed confidence Thursday in getting success in the second round of constitutional reforms.
U.S. STANCE TOWARDS TAIWAN REMAINS UNCHANGED: PRESIDENT BUSH CNA 08 Jun 2005 -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday reiterated that his administration's stance towards Taiwan remains unchanged.
PRESIDENT: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SET STAGE FOR FURTHER REFORM CNA 07 Jun 2005 -- The just-passed constitutional amendments have set the stage for another and more radical phase of constitutional reform, President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday.
Taiwan's National Assembly Passes Constitutional Amendments VOA 07 Jun 2005 -- Taiwan's National Assembly has passed a set of amendments to the island's constitution that analysts say could change Taiwan's political landscape.
TSU URGES CHINA TO DESTROY MISSILES, HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH TAIWAN CNA 05 Jun 2005 -- China should destroy its missiles aimed at Taiwan and open peace talks with the island as the first step toward a peaceful solution to cross-Taiwan Strait disputes, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmaker Lo Chih-ming said Sunday.
CHINA SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STOPPING BULLYING TAIWAN: MOFA CNA 05 Jun 2005 -- China's bullying of Taiwan in a present security meeting serves as a clear indication that the Chinese communist regime has never altered its hegemonic designs against Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Michel Lu said Sunday.
BUSH'S COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN'S DEFENSE UNCHANGED: FORMER U.S. OFFICIAL CNA 03 Jun 2005 -- U.S President George W. Bush's 2001 promise that he will do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan remains unchanged, former U.S Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randall G. Schriver said Friday.
PRESIDENT WILLING TO TALK WITH CHINA'S LEADER CNA 02 Jun 2005 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday he is willing to talk with Chinese President Hu Jintao but not in June or July as had been claimed by some local media.
KMT OFFERS NT$50 MILLION FOR 'DEEP THROAT' IN 319 SHOOTING CNA 02 Jun 2005 -- The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) offered NT$50 million (US$1.59 million) Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the man who shot President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu March 19 last year.
CASE STILL OPEN ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-EVE SHOOTING CNA 02 Jun 2005 -- Prosecutors are not about to end their investigations into the March 19, 2004 presidential election-eve shooting of the president and vice president in spite of a media report to the contrary, Kuo Jen-ni, the chief prosecutor of the Tainan Prosecutor's Office, said Thursday.

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June 2005 Taiwan Special Weapons News