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TAIWAN TO ISSUE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL SECURITY REPORT AFTER ELECTIONS

ROC Central News Agency

2005-11-10 22:35:39

    Taipei, Nov. 10 (CNA) Taiwan will issue its first-ever "national security report" after the year-end "three-in-one" elections, President Chen Shui-bian said in an interview published Thursday in Japan's Asahi Shimbun daily.

    Chen said the report will detail Taiwan's new security environment as well as its internal and external threats and its new security strategies. According to Chen, Taiwan faces an entirely new security environment because of the 911 terrorist attacks on the United States and the rise of China.

    Noting that Taiwan's ultimate security goals lie in defending its sovereignty, dignity, survival, security, prosperity and development, Chen said the nation's security strategies have three tiers -- regional security, overall national security and military security.

    Taiwan was originally scheduled to issue a national security report for the first time in September, but the publication was postponed for various reasons, Chen said, adding that the report is now set to be released after the Dec. 3 elections for local government officials and councilors.

    In the security report, Chen said Taiwan will accentuate its hope that China's rise can be accompanied by an "awakening to peace" and "development of democracy." Only such a rise will contribute to world peace, regional security and human well-being, Chen said.

    He also pointed out that China's intensive expansion of its military muscle is aimed beyond its stated purpose of deterring Taiwan independence. "Instead, its ultimate goal is to annex Taiwan and turn it into a part of the People's Republic of China, " Chen said, adding that China's medium- and long-range missiles and intercontinental missiles target not only Taiwan but also Japan and the United States.

    At the same time, Chen said, the modernization of China's submarine fleet is not just aimed at blockading Taiwan but rather at expanding its sphere of influence into the Pacific Ocean. Likewise, Chen said, recent joint China-Russia military exercises not only targeted Taiwan but also Japan and the United States.

    Describing Taiwan as the best "value, democracy, security and trade" partner for both Japan and the United states, Chen said he was pleased to see Japan and the United States formally listing the peaceful settlement of cross-Taiwan Strait disputes as one of the common Japan-U.S. strategic goals at a meeting held in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

(By Sofia Wu)

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