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DPP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ARMS PROCUREMENT DELAY: KMT HEAD

Central News Agency

2005-07-11 21:04:02

    Taipei, July 11 (CNA) It is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -led government that should bear the blame for the opposition-controlled legislature's blockage of the passage of an arms procurement package from the United States, opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan claimed Monday.

    Lien made his claim while meeting with Randall Shriver, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, who arrived in Taiwan Sunday for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen.

    The KMT has always insisted that Taiwan should maintain sufficient defense capabilities and is very grateful to the United States for its long-term support and assistance in this respect, Lien told his guest.

    According to Lien, since the DPP came to power in May 2000, Taiwan's financial situation and economy has been "getting worse and worse, " so the current arms procurement plan that calls for what he described as an "astronomical" outlay of NT$610.8 billion "seems to be beyond" the country's financial ability.

    Claiming that the government has been "reckless" in dealing with the military procurement plan, Lien said the budget for the planned arms purchase was changed from an originally proposed NT$200.8 billion to NT$400.8 billion and NT$610.8 billion, and that during the process, the government did not give any convincing explanation on why the figure skyrocketed, thus triggering strong opposition.

    In addition, the DPP government has failed to submit a budget plan for the arms procurement package to the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan in accordance with relevant laws, thus making it difficult for the plan to clear the legislature, according to Lien.

    Prior to his meeting with the KMT leader, Shriver told reporters that the planned procurement of P-3C anti-submarine aircraft, Patriot PAC-III anti-missile systems and diesel-electric submarines is vital to Taiwan's defense. "I hope that the legislature will deal with the budget plan for the arms procurement package as soon as possible and that the next KMT chairman will attach great importance to the early passage of the plan, no matter who wins the upcoming KMT chairman election, " Shriver said.

    In response, Lien said that he received a co-signed letter from 30-odd U.S. congressmen urging the KMT to support the arms procurement package several weeks ago, but that before the letter reached him, there had been news reports on the issue. He claimed that the DPP played an active role in this.

    Lien also told Shriver the KMT insists that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait resume long-suspended talks, as "peace needs negotiation and negotiation needs a framework." He also said the KMT believes cross-strait talks should be re-started based upon what it calls a "1992 consensus" that is not acknowledged by the government.

    While here, Shriver, who now works at a consulting firm run by former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, will meet with President Chen Shui-bian, Vice President Annette Lu and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

    He will also visit Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and several other influential opposition figures, as well as Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou.

(By Luis Huang)

ENDITEM/J