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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


March 2006 - Taiwan Special Weapons News

  • NUC CESSATION GIVES PEOPLE RIGHT TO DECIDE TAIWAN'S FUTURE: PRESIDENT CNA 30 Mar 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that his decision to cease the functioning of the anachronistic National Unification Council (NUC) was mainly aimed at returning the prerogative to decide Taiwan's future to the people of the country.
  • U.S. PRODS KMT CHAIRMAN OVER ARMS PROCUREMENT DEAL: DPP LAWMAKER CNA 30 Mar 2006 -- Taiwan must pay for its freedom and the country needs a strong national defense capability to be able to negotiate with China -- two key points that U.S. officials told Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou during his recent visit to the United States, a visiting lawmaker of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Wednesday.
  • PLA MISSILES COULD DOWN 20,000-PLUS ROC SOLDIERS IN HALF DAY: MND CNA 29 Mar 2006 -- More than 20,000 men and women in uniform would be killed or wounded within half a day in the event of a Chinese ballistic missile attack, Vice Defense Minister Chu Kai-sheng said Wednesday.
  • EASTERN SEA DRILLS UNRELATED TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES: MND CNA 28 Mar 2006 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman said Tuesday that the ROC Navy's eastern sea drills have nothing to do with neighboring countries after a local media report claimed that they were carried out with Japan's tacit approval and suggest a defense alliance among the U.S., Japan and Taiwan is taking shape.
  • 54 AAV7 ARMORED LANDING VEHICLES TO BE COMMISSIONED CNA 27 Mar 2006 -- A total of 54 AAV7 advanced amphibious assault vehicles purchased from the United States are scheduled to be commissioned Tuesday to serve at Army bases in northern and southern Taiwan, military sources said Monday.
  • PREMIER URGES KMT TO PRESENT 'REASONABLE' ARMS PROCUREMENT PACKAGE CNA 26 Mar 2006 -- Premier Su Tseng-chang urged opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou Sunday to come up with a draft bill on what he called "reasonable" arms procurement after his return from the United States.
  • TOP-SECRET PLAN TO RETAKE MAINLAND IN 1960S PARTIALLY DECLASSIFIED CNA 26 Mar 2006 -- The late President Chiang Kai-shek ordered the military to map out a detailed plan for retaking the Communist-held Chinese mainland in the 1960s, but the plan was aborted because of "insurmountable difficulties, " according to a book published by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
  • TAIWAN PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO CNA 25 Mar 2006 -- Taiwan fully supports the U.S. policy of maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait because it is against Taiwan's interests to change it, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Joseph Wu said Friday.
  • BEIJING HAS BECOME MORE TOLERANT OF 'REPUBLIC OF CHINA': KMT HEAD CNA 24 Mar 2006 -- The People's Republic of China seems to have become more tolerant of the existence of the Republic of China now that Beijing has to make a choice between the "Republic of China" and the "Republic of Taiwan, " Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday.
  • CHINA'S 'NO INDEPENDENCE, NO USE OF FORCE' STATEMENT A MERE SLOGAN CNA 22 Mar 2006 -- China's statement that if Taiwan does not pursue independence, it will not use force to settle its disputes with Taiwan "is nothing but a slogan," National Security Bureau chief Hsueh Shih-min claimed Wednesday.
  • NO CROSS-STRAIT MILITARY CONFLICT IN COMING TWO YEARS: NSB HEAD CNA 22 Mar 2006 -- Military conflict between Taiwan and China will not be possible in the coming two years unless "contingencies break out in the region, " but cross-Taiwan Strait relations will remain tense, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director Hsueh Shih-min predicted Wednesday.
  • NAVY TO SEND THREE SHIPS TO HELP IMMOBILIZED 'CHENG HO' OFF PALAU CNA 21 Mar 2006 -- The Republic of China Navy will send three ships to Palau to help tow back the immobilized Cheng Kung-class frigate Cheng Ho, the Naval Fleet Command said Tuesday.
  • MND ESTIMATES SUBMARINE PRICE AT US$657 MILLION CNA 20 Mar 2006 -- The cost of purchasing one submarine from the United States is estimated at US$657 million, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a special report Monday.
  • P-3C AIRCRAFT TAIWAN WANTS TO BUY CAN SERVE 15-20 YEARS: MND CNA 20 Mar 2006 -- The P-3C anti-submarine aircraft Taiwan wants to purchase from the United States can remain serviceable for between 10 and 15 years, National Defense Vice Minister Ko Chen-heng said Monday.
  • CHINA GAINING MILITARY EDGE OVER TAIWAN: MND CNA 20 Mar 2006 -- China is gaining an edge over Taiwan as it has laid an "advantageous" foundation for invading the island, according to a Ministry of National Defense (MND) report released Monday.
  • TAIWAN-U.S. RELATIONS 'GOOD': U.S. ENVOY CNA 20 Mar 2006 -- The new U.S. representative to Taiwan said Monday that present relations between Taiwan and the United States are good, but also full of challenges.
  • NAVAL SHIP 'CHENG HO' SUFFERS DAMAGED PROPELLER IN PALAU PORT CNA 20 Mar 2006 -- Cheng Ho, one of the two ships in Taiwan's goodwill flotilla currently visiting Palau, suffered a damaged propeller as the ship was sailing into Malakal Port Monday, the Republic of China's Naval Fleet Command confirmed.
  • Bond Between US, Taiwan Strong Despite Mutual Frustrations VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- While relations between Beijing and Taipei remain tense and stalemated, Taiwan also is seeing stress in its traditionally close alliance with the United States.
  • Thousands of Taiwan Opposition Activists Protest President's China-Provoking Policies VOA 19 Mar 2006 -- Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Taiwan today to protest President Chen Shui-bian's independence-leaning policies which are increasingly provoking China
  • U.S. HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP TAIWAN, CHINA AVOID CONFLICT: RICE CNA 17 Mar 2006 -- The United States has the responsibility to help both sides of the Taiwan Strait avoid conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in Australia Thursday.
  • ARMS PURCHASE ISSUE COMPLICATED BY NUC SPAT: KMT CHAIRMAN CNA 17 Mar 2006 -- The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman said Friday his party had reached a consensus on a "reasonable purchase" of weapons to boost the nation's defense capabilities, and argued that President Chen Shui-bian's decision to cease the function of the National Unification Council (NUC) has complicated the issue.
  • KMT TREATING ARMS PROCUREMENT POLICY, ARMS BILL SEPARATELY: CHAIRMAN CNA 15 Mar 2006 -- Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that the party is treating it's policy on the country's arms procurement and on an arms procurement bill separately.
  • ONLY THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE TAIWAN'S FUTURE: CHEN CNA 15 Mar 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that only the people have the right to decide Taiwan's future.
  • CHINA MIGHT INTIMIDATE TAIWAN MILITARILY AFTER NUC CESSATION: MND CNA 15 Mar 2006 -- China is likely to take action to intimidate Taiwan militarily in the wake of Taiwan's move to cease the function of the National Unification Council (NUC), the Ministry of National Defense (MND) claimed Wednesday.
  • Taiwan's Governing Party Not Likely to Accept Chinese Offer of Talks VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Taiwan political leaders are reacting with concern about comments made by China's premier concerning cross-strait relations.
  • NUC CESSATION 'DID NOT CHANGE STATUS QUO': PRESIDENT CNA 14 Mar 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian has reaffirmed that his move to cease the function of the National Unification Council (NUC) last month did not change the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo.
  • U.S. REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DEFEND TAIWAN CNA 10 Mar 2006 -- A high-ranking U.S. Department of Defense official on Thursday reaffirmed Washington's commitment to defend Taiwan against any military action by China while again urging Taiwan to beef up its capability to defend itself.
  • U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SATISFIED WITH TAIWAN ON NUC: ARMITAGE CNA 10 Mar 2006 -- Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Friday that U.S.-Taiwan relations are good, and that the U.S. Department of State is "satisfied" with Taiwan's handling of the National Unification Council (NUC) issue.
  • TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT DOES NOT COMMIT U.S. TO DEFEND TAIWAN: ARMITAGE CNA 10 Mar 2006 -- Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Friday that the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) does not commit the United States to defend Taiwan.
  • ARMS DEAL STALL SHOWS TAIWAN NOT SERIOUS ABOUT ITS DEFENSE: ARMITAGE CNA 10 Mar 2006 -- Former Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Friday that the stall of the arms deal shows Taiwan is not as serious about its defense issue as it should be.
  • TAIWAN HAS NEVER SOLD WEAPONS TO CHAD: DEFENSE MINISTER CNA 10 Mar 2006 -- National Defense Minister Lee Jye Friday denied an online claim made by an American University that Taiwan sold weapons to Chad.
  • U.S. URGES CHINA TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN CNA 09 Mar 2006 -- A high-ranking U.S. State Department official called on China Wednesday to open dialogue with the elected leaders in Taiwan to facilitate a peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait differences.
  • PRESIDENT VOWS TO DEFEND PEACEFUL TAIWAN STRAIT STATUS QUO CNA 08 Mar 2006 -- President Chen Shui-bian pledged Tuesday to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and prevent this peaceful status quo from being altered.
  • NUC CESSATION COUNTERMEASURE TO CHINA'S MILITARY BUILDUP: MAC CNA 08 Mar 2006 -- Taiwan's decision to cease its National Unification Council (NUC) and National Unification Guidelines (NUG) was a countermeasure against China's intensified military buildup against the island, a Japanese newspaper said Tuesday, quoting Taiwan's top mainland policy planner.
  • MND TO ASK FOR SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET TO BOOST DEFENSE CAPABILITY CNA 08 Mar 2006 -- To facilitate defense buildup, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) will ask for a supplementary budget to finance the upgrading of an anti-missile battery and the preliminary spending for the anti-missile aircraft and conventional submarines it plans to buy from the United States, National Defense Minister Lee Jye said Wednesday.
  • U.S. SUCCEEDS IN ENCOURAGING TAIWAN TO BOOST NATIONAL DEFENSES CNA 08 Mar 2006 -- The United States has encouraged Taiwan to take steps to bolster its national defenses and has achieved success in this regard, Adm. William Fallon, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, claimed Tuesday.
  • U.S. MIGHT NOT USE FULL FORCE TO HELP TAIWAN: SEN. WARNER CNA 08 Mar 2006 -- Senator John Warner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday that he is not so sure if his country would use full force to help Taiwan in case a cross-Taiwan Strait conflict is spurred inappropriately by Taiwanese elected officials.
  • Senior US Senator Warns Taiwan Not to Precipitate Crisis with China VOA 07 Mar 2006 -- An influential member of the U.S. Senate has warned officials on Taiwan that the United States might not significantly come to their aid in a conflict with China, if the Taiwanese officials precipitate a crisis through unnecessary political rhetoric.
  • U.S. OFFICIAL CALLS FOR CALM IN TAIWAN STRAIT CNA 07 Mar 2006 -- The United States urges the two sides across the Taiwan Strait to resolve their problems through dialogue, Christopher Hill, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said during his visit to the Philippines.
  • DEFENSE MINISTRY RETRACES PLA'S MANEUVERS OF 1995 AND 1996 CNA 07 Mar 2006 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) Tuesday retraced the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) seven military maneuvers between 1995 and 1996 ahead of Taiwan's first-ever direct presidential election to intimidate Taiwan voters, which were commonly known as the Taiwan Strait crisis.
  • CHINA NOW HAS 784 MISSILES TARGETING TAIWAN: MND CNA 07 Mar 2006 -- China has set up six guided missile brigades along its southeastern coast and now has 784 guided missiles targeting Taiwan, according to the latest data released Tuesday by the Ministry of National Defense.
  • ARMY TO RESUME COMBAT TRAINING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES CNA 07 Mar 2006 -- The military will soon lift a ban on combat training programs in temperatures higher than 32 degrees Celsius as part of its efforts to upgrade the military's combat preparedness and prowess, an official said Tuesday.
  • PROSECUTOR-GENERAL TO ASK PRESIDENT TO PROVIDE LAFAYETTE TAPE CNA 07 Mar 2006 -- If President Chen Shui-bian has an alleged tape recording critical evidence in the Lafayette frigate kickback scandal, "I believe the president will hand it over to the prosecutor-general," Justice Minister Shih Mao-lin said Tuesday.
  • TWO SIDES OF TAIWAN STRAIT UNRELATED SINCE 1949: MAC CNA 06 Mar 2006 -- The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not been related or connected to each other since 1949, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Monday.
  • TAIWAN NOT PART OF CHINA: PREMIER CNA 06 Mar 2006 -- Premier Su Tseng-chang said Monday that Taiwan is not part of China and pointed out that unification with China is not the only option for Taiwan.
  • DPP NOT RULING OUT POSSIBILITY OF CONTACTS WITH CHINA: PARTY HEAD CNA 06 Mar 2006 -- Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said Monday that the party will not rule out the possibility of contacts with China in any way so long as they are based on equality, the nation's interests and cross-strait peace.
  • MOFA CHIEF "UNAMBIGUOUSLY" STATES GOV'T POSITION ON NUC CNA 04 Mar 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang stated "unambiguously" Saturday that the Taiwanese government's stand on the National Unification Council and the National Guidelines have been "consistent" and "unchanging."
  • NO U.S.-TAIWAN UNDERSTANDING GAP ON NUC CESSATION ISSUE: U.S. OFFICAL CNA 03 Mar 2006 -- A U.S. official ruled out Thursday the existence of any discrepancies between Washington and Taipei on their understanding of President Chen Shui-bian's move to cease the operations of the National Unification Council (NUC) in Taiwan, namely that "the NUC had not been abolished."
  • U.S. ASKS TAIWAN TO CLARIFY IT 'DID NOT ABOLISH' UNIFICATION COUNCIL CNA 03 Mar 2006 -- A U.S. official requested Thursday that Taiwan clarify that President Chen Shui-bian's recent move to "cease the function" of the National Unification Council (NUC) "did not abolish" the organization.
  • MOFA URGES PUBLIC NOT TO `OVERINTERPRET' NUC CESSATION CNA 03 Mar 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang urged the public Friday not to "overinterpret" the recent "ceasing to function" of the National Unification Council (NUC).
  • DPP UNVEILS POSITION PAPER ON ARMS PROCUREMENT CNA 03 Mar 2006 -- The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Friday that submarines are a major deterrent strategic weapon in Taiwan's national defense and urged the legislature to appropriate in the current session preliminary budgets for purchasing them.
  • TAIWAN, U.S. SHARE UNDERSTANDING OF NUC: MOFA CNA 03 Mar 2006 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang said Friday that no official said that "cease to function" and "cease to apply" were no different from "abolition" when President Chen Shui-bian announced Feb. 27 the ceasing of the the function and application of the National Unification Council and the National Unification Guidelines.
  • TAIWAN-U.S. RELATIONS MOVING ON AFTER NUC SPAT: ROC DIPLOMAT CNA 02 Mar 2006 -- The gap between Taiwan and the United States on President Chen Shui-bian's cessation of the National Unification Council (NUC) "has greatly narrowed, " and the latest developments have been positive, David Lee, Taiwan's top envoy to the United States, said Thursday.
  • CEASING NUC OPERATIONS THREATENS CROSS-STRAIT STATUS QUO: FRANCE CNA 01 Mar 2006 -- Taiwan's decision to cease the functioning of its National Unification Council (NUC) and the application of its National Unification Guidelines (NUG) "could prove prejudicial to the maintenance of the status quo" across the Taiwan Strait, a French Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said Tuesday.
  • NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENTS OF CHINESE MILITARY FORCES: MND CNA 01 Mar 2006 -- There have been no unusual movements of Chinese military forces resulting from President Chen Shui-bian's announcement to cease the functions of the National Unification Council (NUC), the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday.
  • United States Calls for Peaceful Dialogue Between China, Taiwan Washington File 01 Mar 2006 -- The United States continues to call for dialogue between China and Taiwan to avoid provocation and changes in the status quo, according to State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.



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