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TENS OF THOUSANDS TAKE TO THE STREETS TO BACK ARMS PROCUREMENT

ROC Central News Agency

2005-09-25 23:13:11

    Taipei, Sept 25 (CNA) An estimated 50,000 local people, mostly from pro-independence groups, marched through major Taipei streets Sunday to back an arms procurement package aimed at fending off China but stonewalled by the opposition-controlled legislature.

    Holding banners and chanting slogans of "Safeguard Taiwan" and "Strengthen Defenses, " the marchers condemned opposition lawmakers for blocking the government's plan to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines, a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries from the United States.

    But dozens of arms procurement opponents staged a small protest outside the Legislative Yuan, claiming that the U.S. arms deal could start an arms race with China and squeeze social welfare spending.

    The two groups were separated by hundreds of police and barbed wire barricades. Some members from the two sides traded barbs at times, but no conflicts erupted.

    The march was jointly organized by the Hand-in-Hand-to-Protect-Taiwan Alliance and the World Taiwanese Congress.

    Ng Chiautong, the event's chief organizer, said the parade will show the world that the people of Taiwan will not be bullied by China and are determined to defend Taiwan's independent sovereign status.

    Ng blamed the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the Kuomintang and the People First Party for boycotting the arms procurement package. "If we don't give our soldiers the most advanced weapons, how are they supposed to fight China and defend Taiwan? " Ng said, adding: "We must be willing to pay for the weapons for our own defense and we must be confident Taiwan will not lose."

    In addition to pro-independence groups, some lawmakers and senior executives from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its ally -- the Taiwan Solidarity Union -- also took part in the parade to call for more public support for the arms procurement package. Organizers estimated the number of participants to the parade at about 50,000.

    For more than a year, opposition lawmakers have used their slim majority in the legislature to scuttle plans to debate the arms package on the excuse that it would spark an arms race with China that could bankrupt Taiwan's economy.

    The DPP administration recently made a compromise offer and reduced the special appropriation to NT$340 billion (about US$11 billion), deferring part of it to the regular defense budget. Defense officials say the arms package is aimed at deterring a Chinese invasion, not provoking war.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM