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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


February 2006 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • WHITE HOUSE WELCOMES CHEN'S COMMITMENT TO CROSS-STRAIT PEACE CNA 28 Feb 2006 -- The White House welcomed President Chen Shui-bian's reaffirmation Monday of his administration's commitment to cross-strait peace and stability and to the pledges he made in his inaugural address not to unilaterally alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
  • U.S. UNDERSTANDING IS CHEN DID NOT ABOLISH NUC: STATE DEPARTMENT CNA 28 Feb 2006 -- In response to President Chen Shui-bian's decision to cease the operations of the National Unification Council, the State Department said Monday that "it's our understanding that President Chen did not abolish it, and he reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to the status quo."
  • PRESIDENT SIGNS DOCUMENTS ON CEASING NUC'S FUNCTIONS CNA 28 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian signed official documents Tuesday on ceasing the functions of the National Unification Council (NUC) and agreeing that the National Unification Guidelines (NUG) shall cease to apply.
  • NUC IS LIKE 'SPOILT FOOD IN A FREEZER': VICE PRESIDENT CNA 28 Feb 2006 -- Vice President Annette Lu compared the National Unification Council (NUC) Tuesday to "spoiled food in a freezer" that must be discarded.
  • U.S. RESPONSE TO CEASING NUC'S OPERATIONS 'POSITIVE, MODERATE': MOFA CNA 28 Feb 2006 -- The United States has responded in a "positive and moderate" way to President Chen Shui-bian's announcement that the National Unification Council (NUC) will cease operations, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman said Tuesday.
  • China Condemns Taiwan's Decision to Scrap Unification Council VOA 28 Feb 2006 -- China is blasting Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's decision Monday to do away with the unification council, saying pro-independence moves will bring "disaster to the island."
  • THREE PARTIES UNITED IN OPPOSING ABOLITION OF NUC CNA 27 Feb 2006 -- Three opposition parties threatened Monday to resort to "whatever means necessary" to oppose the scrapping of the National Unification Council and its guidelines.
  • PRESIDENT DECIDES TO CEASE NUC'S OPERATION CNA 27 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian made a decision at a National Security Council (NSC) meeting Monday that in the face of China's growing military threats against Taiwan, the National Unification Council (NUC) should cease to operate and the National Unification Guidelines (NUG) should cease to apply.
  • NSC MEETING AIMED AT SAFEGUARDING TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY: PRESIDENT CNA 27 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian said he was holding an unusual National Security Council (NSC) meeting Monday to underscore the government's determination to safeguard Taiwan's democracy and to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
  • STATUS QUO UNCHANGED BY DECISION TO CEASE NUC FUNCTION: PRESIDENT CNA 27 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Monday his decision to cease the operation of the National Unification Council (NUC) would not change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
  • US Downplays Taiwanese Move on Unification Council VOA 27 Feb 2006 -- The United States Monday downplayed a move by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian to halt operations of an advisory council on unifying the island with China
  • Taiwan Abolishes Reunification Council VOA 27 Feb 2006 -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian says he is dissolving the part of his government responsible for eventual reunification with mainland China
  • PRESIDENT TO HEAR NSC REPORT ON ABOLISHING NUC CNA 26 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian will call a National Security Council meeting Monday, during which he will hear a report on abolishing the National Unification Council (NUC) and National Unification Guidelines (NUG) , NSC Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said Sunday.
  • TAIWAN READY TO FILE SUIT FOR RETURN OF LAFAYETTE SLUSH FUND CNA 26 Feb 2006 -- The government is ready to file a lawsuit for the return of a huge slush fund frozen in Swiss banks that is believed to be made up of illegal kickbacks from a Taiwan arms procurement deal with France back in the early 1990s, judicial authorities said Sunday.
  • VISIT BY U.S. OFFICIAL UNRELATED TO NUC ABOLITION PROPOSAL: MOFA CNA 26 Feb 2006 -- Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is scheduled to visit Taipei in the first half of March, but his visit is unrelated to President Chen Shui-bian's proposal to abolish the National Unification Council (NUC) , an official said Sunday.
  • U.S. FIRM TO UPGRADE RADAR RECEIVER ON TAIWAN'S F-16 AIRCRAFT CNA 26 Feb 2006 -- BAE Systems in Yonkers, New York has won a US$9.32 million contract to provide for the hardware and software upgrade of the AN/ALR56M radar-warning receiver to be installed on Taiwan's F-16 jet fighters, the U.S. Department of Defense said Friday.
  • NEW AIT CHAIRMAN APPOINTED CNA 25 Feb 2006 -- The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced Friday the appointment of Raymond F. Burghardt as the new chairman of the organization that handles U.S.-Taiwan affairs in the absence of diplomatic ties.
  • NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OF CHINESE ARMED FORCES: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 24 Feb 2006 -- National Defense Minister Lee Jye denied media speculation Friday that China's People's Liberation Army is (PLA) increasing its combat readiness to intimidate Taiwan as a result of President Chen Shui-bian's plan to abolish the National Unification Council.
  • U.S. CONTINUES TO URGE TAIWAN TO MAINTAIN CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO CNA 23 Feb 2006 -- The United States reiterated Wednesday its opposition to any steps by either Taiwan or China that raise cross-Taiwan Strait tensions or change the status quo.
  • PRESIDENT REAFFIRMS ARMS PROCUREMENT PLAN CNA 22 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed Wednesday that the government has not changed its policy toward the long-stalled arms procurement package from the United States nor has it any intention of giving up any of the three items covered in the package.
  • MND TO RESUBMIT REQUEST TO PURCHASE PATRIOT BATTERIES IN 2007 CNA 22 Feb 2006 -- National Defense Minister Lee Jye said Wednesday that the Defense Ministry's plan to purchase Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries as part of a major arms procurement package from the United States will be resubmitted to the Legislative Yuan next March.
  • U.S. CONGRESSMAN SAYS NO CHANGE IN ARMS DEAL CNA 22 Feb 2006 -- U.S. House Representative Rob Simmons said Wednesday that President George W. Bush supports Taiwan's arms procurement deal and does not see any possible change in the deal before the Bush administration leaves office in 2008.
  • TAIWAN-U.S. TIES REMAINS UNCHANGED: PREMIER SU CNA 21 Feb 2006 -- Relations between Taiwan and the United States remain unchanged, although they may hold different views on certain subjects, Premier Su Tseng-chang said Tuesday.
  • MND HOPES 3 ITEMS IN ARMS PROCUREMENT PACKAGE WILL CLEAR LEGISLATURE CNA 21 Feb 2006 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) hopes that all three items of a long-stalled major arms procurement package will clear the Legislative Yuan intact, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said Tuesday.
  • PATRIOT PAC III MISSILES OFF SHOPPING LIST: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 21 Feb 2006 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is willing to remove Patriot PAC III missiles from a controversial weapons package from the United States "out of respect" for the opposition parties, National Defense Minister Lee Jye said Tuesday.
  • MND DISMISSES REPORTS THAT WAR GAMES WILL SIMULATE CHINESE OCCUPATION CNA 20 Feb 2006 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) dismissed Monday reports that this year's computer war games will simulate a scenario of China's invasion and occupation of Taiwan in 2008.
  • TAIWAN DISMISSES REPORTS ON U.S. WARNING ABOUT SCRAPPING NUC CNA 18 Feb 2006 -- Taiwan has not received any warning from the United States about the consequence if President Chen Shui-bian insists on following through his proposal to scrap the National Unification Council (NUC) and the National Unification Guidelines, a Presidential Office spokesman said Saturday.
  • WASHINGTON MAINTAINS CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH TAIWAN: U.S. OFFICIAL CNA 16 Feb 2006 -- The United States maintains effective and close communication with Taiwan and will continue that communication to make clear to Taipei that Washington's policy remains unchanged, a high-ranking U.S. State Department official said Wednesday.
  • DROPPING USE OF FORCE A MUST TO RE-OPEN CROSS-STRAIT NEGOTIATIONS: MA CNA 14 Feb 2006 -- To resume cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations, China must renounce its military intimidation of Taiwan, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said in London Monday.
  • KMT CHAIRMAN UNDER ATTACK OVER 'ONE CHINA' REMARKS CNA 14 Feb 2006 -- Opposition Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou came under attack Tuesday by the "pan-green" camp of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), after he defined the relationship between Taiwan and China as "equal political partners under the 'one China' framework, " and warned that "unilateral separatism" will be "the antidote that invokes disaster" for Taiwan.
  • NO FIXED TIMETABLE FOR CROSS-STRAIT UNIFICATION: KMT CHAIRMAN CNA 14 Feb 2006 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said in London Monday that his party has no "fixed timetable" for Taiwan's unification with China, claiming that it is not a pressing issue for either side.
  • DEPUTY ARMY COMMANDER TO BE PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF CNA 14 Feb 2006 -- Lt. Gen. Chao Shi-chang, deputy commander of Army Command Headquarters, will be promoted to deputy chief of the General Staff, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Tuesday.
  • KMT NOT OPPOSED TO MAINTAINING DEFENSE SPENDING AT 3% OF GDP: MA CNA 13 Feb 2006 -- Visiting Taipei Mayor Ma Jing-jeou said here Sunday that the Kuomintang (KMT) is not opposed to maintaining Taiwan's annual defense budget at three percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) if government finances can support it.
  • DPP AGAIN URGES OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REVIEW ARMS BILL CNA 12 Feb 2006 -- The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged opposition parties again Saturday to stop boycotting a long-stalled plan to purchase three big-ticket weaponry systems from the United States.
  • ABOLISHING UNIFICATION GUIDELINES WOULDN'T ALTER STATUS QUO: DPP CNA 12 Feb 2006 -- The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus supports scrapping the National Unification Guidelines, and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait would by no means be affected by such an abolishment, a DPP legislative party whip said Sunday.
  • KMT CHIEF PROPOSES 2-P 3-C THEORY FOR TAIWAN-CHINA TIES CNA 12 Feb 2006 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou is expected to put forth a "new model" for handling relations between Taiwan and China, hoping that the two will go through confrontation, conciliation and cooperation to reach peaceful co-existence and joint prosperity.
  • U.S. FRUSTRATED BY DELAY IN TAIWAN'S ARMS PROCUREMENT DEAL: YU CNA 11 Feb 2006 -- Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said Saturday that the United States is indeed frustrated by Taiwan's long dealy in striking a bilateral arms deal, and that under the circumstances it was "only natural" that the U.S. to show impatience.
  • PRESIDENT APPROVES MAJOR MILITARY RESHUFFLE CNA 10 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian has approved a major military reshuffle, with Gen. Chu Kai-sheng, commanding general at the Army Command Headquarters, replacing Hou Shou-yeh as vice minister of national defense, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Friday.
  • MAJOR MILITARY RESHUFFLE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON CNA 10 Feb 2006 -- The military leadership will undergo a major reshuffle in the near future, with the replacement of all of the top commanders of the three armed forces branches, reports said Thursday.
  • KMT STUDYING FEASIBILITY OF 'DIRECT LINKS-ARMS PURCHASE' TRADE-OFF CNA 09 Feb 2006 -- The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) will study the feasibility of a trade-off between two long-stalled projects with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, a party official said Wednesday.
  • CHINA SHOULD DROP MILITARY THREAT AGAINST TAIWAN: MAC CNA 09 Feb 2006 -- China should drop its military threat against Taiwan to facilitate the cultivation of mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu said Wednesday.
  • INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TOLERATES CROSS-STRAIT IMBALANCE: PRESIDENT CNA 09 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that the international community's "over-tolerance" of China's military threat toward Taiwan is creating "serious imbalances" in cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
  • MND TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR MILITARY RESHUFFLE CNA 09 Feb 2006 -- The military leadership will undergo a major reshuffle in the near future, with all of the top commanders of the three armed forces branches replaced, sources said Thursday.
  • U.S. REPEATS SUPPORT FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CROSS-STRAIT DISPUTES CNA 08 Feb 2006 -- U.S. State Department officials reiterated Tuesday Washington's support for apeaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait disputes in a way that is acceptable to people on both sides of the strait.
  • NO REQUEST FROM U.S. FOR PRESIDENT TO REAFFIRM 'FIVE NOES': MOFA CNA 08 Feb 2006 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Wednesday that it has not received a request from the United States that President Chen Shui-bian reaffirm his "five noes" pledge.
  • KMT LAWMAKER CALLS FOR TRANSPORT LINKS IN EXCHANGE FOR ARMS DEAL CNA 08 Feb 2006 -- Main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Ting Shou-chung proposed Wednesday that the government open direct transport links with China in exchange for legislative approval of a major arms procurement bill.
  • CHINA IS REAL CROSS-STRAIT TROUBLEMAKER: MAC CNA 08 Feb 2006 -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu accused China Wednesday of being the "real troublemaker" that is attempting to change the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo unilaterally through its ever-increasing military deployment against Taiwan.
  • CHINA SHOULD DROP MILITARY THREAT AGAINST TAIWAN: MAC CNA 08 Feb 2006 -- China should drop its military threat against Taiwan to facilitate the cultivation of mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu said Wednesday.
  • UNIFICATION ISSUE UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE: PRESIDENT'S AID CNA 07 Feb 2006 -- It is up to the people, rather than the government or anyone else, to decide whether Taiwan should unify with China, President Chen Shui-bian's deputy chief of staff said Tuesday.
  • NO PLANS TO SEND ENVOY TO U.S. OVER PRESIDENT CHEN'S REMARKS: MOFA CNA 07 Feb 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang said Tuesday that there are no plans to send an envoy to the United States to allay its concerns over President Chen Shui-bian's proposal to scrap the National Unification Council (NUC) and the National Unification Guidelines.
  • LEGISLATOR LI AO REITERATES STRONG OPPOSITION TO ARMS PROCUREMENT CNA 07 Feb 2006 -- Independent Legislator Li Ao vowed Tuesday that he will continue to oppose the passage of any bill that would allow the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government to buy weapons from the United States.
  • REGULAR BUDGET CAN PAY FOR WEAPONS IF DEFENSE SPENDING RAISED: MND CNA 07 Feb 2006 -- Expenses for buying three major weaponry items from the United States can be covered in the Ministry of Defense (MND) regular budget if defense spending is raised to 3 percent of the gross national product (GDP) , as the government has tried to do, an MND official said Tuesday.
  • MEASURED 'FIRST STRIKE' DESIGNED TO PRESERVE PEACE: MND CNA 07 Feb 2006 -- The United States is supportive of Taiwan's measured mechanism regarding its reaction in the event of an attack from China, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Tuesday.
  • PFP WANTS INTERNAL `PAN-BLUE' COORDINATION ON ARMS PROCUREMENT DEAL CNA 06 Feb 2006 -- An opposition People First Party (PFP) official said Monday that the party wants Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng to coordinate between the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the PFP on the U.S. arms procurement deal before starting a cross-caucus negotiation in the legislature.
  • TAIWAN COMMUNICATES WITH U.S. OVER PRESIDENT'S WORDS: MOFA CNA 06 Feb 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang said Monday that communications with the United States over President Chen Shui-bian's proposal to consider scrapping the National Unification Council (NUC) and the National Unification Guidelines have been "rational and amiable."
  • DPP LAWMAKER FIRES ANOTHER SALVO AGAINST ROC'S U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CNA 06 Feb 2006 -- A lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continued Monday to take Taiwan's representative to Washington David Ta-wei Lee to task for allegedly failing to do his duty in allaying U.S. concerns over President Chen Shui-bian's proposal to consider getting rid of the National Unification Council (NUC) and the National Unification Guidelines.
  • PRESIDENT'S UNIFICATION COUNCIL STATEMENT NOT IMPROVISED CNA 06 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian was not making offhand remarks when he said on lunar New Year's Day that he was seriously considering dissolving the National Unification Council and its guidelines, a senior official said Monday.
  • FM REBUTS REPORT ON U.S. ANGER WITH ROC PRESIDENT CNA 05 Feb 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang rebutted as "groundless" Sunday a report from the United States that claimed U.S. President George Bush was angered by President Chen Shui-bian's statement about the scrapping of Taiwan's National Unification Council.
  • ARMS PROCUREMENT PACKAGE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AFTER APRIL: PFP HEAD CNA 03 Feb 2006 -- Opposition People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong said Friday that the Legislative Yuan should not deal with the arms procurement package until after April.
  • U.S. HOPES THERE WILL BE NO MORE SURPRISES FROM TAIWAN CNA 03 Feb 2006 -- A high-ranking U.S. State Department official said Thursday that Washington expects Taipei to continue to honor its commitment to maintain the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo and hopes there will be "no surprises" between Washington and Taipei.
  • TAIWAN ECHOES U.S. IDEAS ON CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO: MOFA CNA 02 Feb 2006 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed Thursday that Taiwan and the United States share the same stance on the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo, despite U.S. "concern" over President Chen Shui-bian's statement Jan. 29 that he is seriously considering scrapping the National Unification Council and the National Unification Guidelines.
  • TAIWAN TO STAND BY OWN DEFINITION OF 'STATUS QUO': MAC HEAD CNA 02 Feb 2006 -- Taiwan, the U.S. and China's definitions of "Taiwan Strait status quo" have never been the same and it has become a wrestling ground for the three countries.
  • NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION LAW TO BE PUT INTO FORCE FEB. 2 CNA 01 Feb 2006 -- The National Defense Education Law will be formally put into practice Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday.
  • CHEN'S SPEECH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STATUS QUO CHANGE: MINISTER CNA 01 Feb 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian's Lunar New Year's Day speech has nothing to do with changing the Taiwan Strait status quo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang said Wednesday.



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