DPP AGAIN URGES OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REVIEW ARMS BILL
ROC Central News Agency
2006-02-12 01:54:11
Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) 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.
The DPP legislative caucus renewed its call in response to media reports that two U.S. officials, including Dennis Wilder, the U.S. National Security Council's acting senior director for Asia, had said if Taiwan did not show determination in its self-defense, the U.S. may lose interest in Taiwan after six months.
According to the reports, the U.S. officials conveyed the message to Taiwan's Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng during Wang's visit to Washington, D.C. in January.
Commenting on the reports, DPP legislative whip Yeh Yi-jin said it is understandable that the United States becomes frustrated and impatient with Taiwan's long delay in coming to a decision on the arms procurement deal.
The opposition-controlled legislature has blocked the budget bill for the DPP administration's plan to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft from the United States for nearly two years.
Yeh said it is hoped that the opposition alliance can at least allow for discussion at the legislative floor on the planned purchase of the submarines and submarine-hunting aircraft to meet Taiwan's badly defense needs in the face of China's ever-mounting military threat.
She also urged the Ministry of National Defense to step up communications with the opposition camp and seek its support for the arms bill. "We hope the legislature can begin deliberation of the bill in its new session scheduled to start Feb. 21.," she added.
(By Sofia Wu)
ENDITEM
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
