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U.S. WANTS TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN FOR PEACE AND SECURITY: SHRIVER

Central News Agency

2005-07-13 20:51:19

    Taipei, July 13 (CNA) The U.S. is trying to sell a package of arms to Taiwan because it is "important for peace and security" in the Taiwan Strait and because it serves U.S. interests, a former U.S. official in charge of East Asian affairs said Wednesday.

    Randall Shriver, former deputy assistant secretary of state, would not say what, if any, damage might have been caused by the failure of Taiwan's legislature to pass a special budget bill for purchasing the proposed U.S. weapons.

    But during an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency, he pointed out that if the passage of the bill keeps being delayed, it would certainly impact the U.S. Pacific Command's ability to intervene in a Taiwan Strait crisis. It could also impact the "political climate on Capitol Hill," he added.

    The Bush administration has offered to sell eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C anti- submarine aircraft to Taiwan. However, the Legislative Yuan has yet to put the government's special budget bill even through the Procedure Committee.

    Shriver, one of those pushing for the arms sale, has been visiting Taiwan since Sunday to understand why the passage has been stalled. Before he left Wednesday, he said he is still unsure if the bill will be passed soon.

    Asked if the U.S. could withdraw the offer, he said it is very unlikely. "The U.S. government will continue to pursue this" though it has been frustrated by the slow progress of the special budget bill, he said.

    In another interview with Taiwan Public Television, Shriver said China's enactment of the Anti-Secession Law, plus its growing military might "should compel" Taiwan to do something quickly to boost its defence capabilities.

    He said China does not specifically favor the use of arms to settle the Taiwan Strait issue. Still, he added, Beijing has been building up its capability to solve the issue militarily.

(By S.C. Chang)

ENDITEM/mw