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PURCHASING SUBS FROM E.U. 'NOT IMPOSSIBLE': ENVOY

ROC Central News Agency

2005-09-28 15:10:29

    Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's top envoy in Brussels said Wednesday at the Legislative Yuan that it is possible that Taiwan could turn to the European Union to try to purchase submarines for its military, but he added that "this possibility is very small."

    Chen Chien-jen, Taiwan's representative to the E.U. and Belgium, made the remarks during an interpellation session when opposition Kuomintang Legislator Chiang Hsiao-yen, a former foreign minister, asked him whether the island could turn to the E.U. to buy submarines as the arms procurement bill to buy a package of weaponry items, including submarines, from the United States remains stalled in the Legislative Yuan.

    Claiming that he has never received instructions or anything else from Taipei to deal with matters related to the procurement of submarines since he became Taiwan's envoy in Brussels in July of last year, Chen, who returned to Taiwan recently for regular consultations, also said that Taiwan's military attache stationed in Brussels has never mentioned anything related to such a purchase. "Therefore, I actually don't know how to reply to the question, " he added.

    However, he said that if the government were to ask him to collect any information regarding such a procurement, he would try to devise means to do so.

    Also in response to the same question about whether Taiwan can purchase submarines from the E.U., the envoy said that "nothing is impossible in the world, " adding, however, that "he dares not say anything before doing something."

    Taiwan has successfully purchased submarines from the Netherlands and Mirage jet fighters from France in the past despite the fact that many people had not believed that such purchases were possible, he further said.

    Nevertheless, as the time and circumstances have changed, Chen said that it is worthwhile for Taiwan to consider whether the rise of China will make it more difficult for the island to purchase arms from E.U. countries in the future.

(By P.C.Tang)

Enditem/Li