TAIWAN MUST STRENGTHEN ANTI-MISSILE CAPABILITY: MAC CHAIRMAN
Central News Agency
2005-07-21 17:21:36
Taipei, July 21 (CNA) The nation's top mainland China policy planner said Thursday that faced with the missile threat from China, Taiwan should step up its anti-missile capability.
Joseph Wu, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), made the remarks when he spoke at the opening of an agricultural management training program in Taipei.
His words came in the wake of a U.S. Pentagon report on the People's Republic of China's military power earlier this week in which it said that the cross-strait military balance has continued to tilt toward China.
Wu said that China has deployed around 720 short-range missiles against Taiwan along its coastal areas, and that the number is increasing at 100 per year.
Faced with this threat, Taiwan needs to strengthen its anti-missile capability, Wu said, urging the public to support the government's arms procurement.
He was referring to the Cabinet's request for an arms procurement package of eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft from the United States, which is still stalled in the legislature.
In addition to adding to its weaponry, Taiwan also needs to step up training of its armed forces, engage in defense reforms and work with other East Asian countries who are concerned about regional peace and stability to handle a rising China.
(by Lilian Wu)
enditem/mw
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