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ARMS PROCUREMENT HAD BEEN DECIDED BEFORE REFERENDUM: SPOKESMAN

ROC Central News Agency

2005-09-07 22:56:29

    Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) The procurement plan for three items of advanced arms, which is pending approval by the Legislative Yuan, had been decided before the first nationwide referendum held alongside the March 20, 2004 presidential election, Executive Yuan spokesman Cho Jung-tai said Wednesday.

    Cho made the remarks after main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and Legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng said the government should deal with a failed proposal in the country's first referendum before discussing the budget for the procurement of eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft.

    The purchase of the eight diesel-electric submarines was decided in 1994, while the procurement of a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and the six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries was determined in 1997 and 1998, respectively, Cho explained, adding that the U.S. government approved the sale of Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries in 1999, and submarines and anti-submarine aircraft in 2001.

    Cho said that one of the two questions asked in the referendum was -- "The people of Taiwan insist that the Taiwan Strait issue be resolved through peaceful means. Should China refuse to withdraw the missiles it has targeted at Taiwan and openly renounce the use of force against us, would you agree that the government should acquire more anti-missile weapons to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities?"

    According to Cho, what the referendum wanted to emphasize in the question was the government should "acquire more anti-missile weapons." But the arms procurement package had been decided before the referendum and none of the three items were "additionally" increased, he stressed.

    As for the question whether there is still room for the government to adjust downward the budget required for the arms procurement package, Cho said that the legislature has the right to slash the budget while deliberating the procurement plan.

    The budget plan for the procurement has been blocked for two consecutive legislative sessions due to opposition from the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the KMT and the People First Party, which holds a slim majority in the 225-seat legislature.

(By Luis Huang)

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