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MND: TAIWAN TO SEEK RECIPROCITY IN ARMS DEALS WITH U.S.

ROC Central News Agency

2005-09-21 16:03:47

    Los Angeles, Sept. 20 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has asked the United States to make reciprocal technology transfers or purchases in its arms dealings with Taiwan, a visiting Republic of China official said Tuesday.

    Vice Minister of National Defense Hou Shou-yeh said he has taken advantage of the just-concluded Taiwan-U.S. defense industry conference in San Diego to convey to the U.S. authorities Taiwan's desire for reciprocity in its arms deals with the United States.

    Noting that other government departments have consistently asked foreign suppliers to make reciprocal purchases of Taiwan products or technology transfers whenever they sign major procurement contracts, Hou said the MND will follow this practice in its future arms dealings with the United States to upgrade Taiwan's defense technology and production capacity.

    Meanwhile, Hou said he had smooth communications with U.S. defense officials during the two-day Taiwan-U.S. defense industry meeting. "I didn't feel any pressure from the U.S. side," Hou said, adding that in additional to face-to-face talks during the meeting, MND officials maintained smooth regular contacts with U.S. defense authorities.

    Following the defense industry conference, Hou was scheduled to travel to a U.S. military base Wednesday to get first-hand information about Taiwan military officers receiving training there.

    Hou and other MND staff members attending the conference are scheduled to wrap up their trip Thursday.

    More than 100 people took part in the conference, including Taiwan and U.S. think tank scholars and military specialists, as well as weapons researchers and military officials. The two-day meeting was sponsored by the U. S.-Taiwan Business Council, a non-governmental organization that groups U.S. companies with interests in Taiwan.

    The two-day meeting focused on the study of the current situation of U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation and the outlook for Taiwan's future defense needs.

(By Chu Lu-sheng and Sofia Wu)

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