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TAIWAN INCREASING MILITARY EXCHANGES WITH CENTRAL AMERICA: MND

ROC Central News Agency

2005-09-26 15:26:14

    Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) Taiwan's military has increased exchanges with its counterparts in Central America since the Ministry of National Defense (MND) was invited to take part in the Central American Military Forum in April this year, Defense Minister Lee Jye said Monday.

    Taiwan was invited to take part in the Central American Military Forum as an observer, making it the forum's fifth observer states behind the United States, Germany, France and the Dominican Republic, Lee said.

    The ministry's participation in the forum marked one of the nation's major breakthroughs in international military exchanges in recent years, Lee claimed during a session at the Legislative Yuan National Defense Committee.

    In the future, he said, the MND will also expand exchanges and interactions with its counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as seek collaboration in war games and training drills, and help strengthen security efforts in the region.

    For instance, the MND will continue to expand bilateral exchanges with Japan, aimed mainly at establishing a format for regular visit exchanges with Japanese security and public safety authorities, Lee said.

    Meanwhile, Lee appealed to members of the Legislative Yuan's National Defense Committee for their support for the long-stalled arms procurement bill which has been blocked for three consecutive legislative sessions.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/Li