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KMT NOT OPPOSED TO MAINTAINING DEFENSE SPENDING AT 3% OF GDP: MA

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-13 14:25:39

    London, Feb. 12 (CNA) 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.

    In an address delivered to representatives of the overseas Taiwanese communities in England, Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, said that the KMT unwaveringly supports the notion that Taiwan needs to have a sufficient self-defense capability and that the party has demonstrated its resolve to boost this capability.

    However, Ma pointed out that the KMT opposes "irrational" arms purchases. The KMT and the other two "pan-blue alliance" parties, the New Party and the People First Party, are opposed to "money for friendship" arms purchases and will only support "reasonable and pragmatic" arms procurement plans, he said.

    Ma, who is currently on a six-day visit in London as part of his five-nation European tour, told his audience that the KMT will clearly make known its stance on Taiwan's arms procurement plans by the end of February at the earliest.

    The KMT is also expected to put forth its reform plan for the Control Yuan, before the end of February, he said, adding that the plan will be aimed at manning Taiwan's top watchdog body with professional and "less political" figures.

    Ma, who is viewed as a shoo-in to win the KMT nomination in the 2008 presidential election, also mentioned that the KMT will resolve the thorny party assets issue before 2008.

    He added that part of the funds expected to be acquired through liquidation of some the KMT assets will be used to expedite retirement plans for senior KMT workers, with the aim of reducing the party's payroll to some 600 people within two years. "Manpower" is not necessarily a guarantee for a party to win popularity, Ma said, pointing out that the KMT, which has more than 1 million members, has only garnered 51 percent of the vote in its best election performance. In comparison, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has managed to secure 42 percent of the vote in major elections with only 300,000-odd party members. "The KMT has had 'lower productivity' than the DPP," he added.

    Ma said that what counts is not manpower or money, but rather restoring the party's spirit and integrity. The KMT should strive to win the hearts of the Taiwan people through the "Three Principles of the People" -- nationalism, democracy and the people's well-being -- put forward by Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China and the KMT, to build an independent, democratic and prosperous China, he said.

    Ma began his six-day visit to London Feb. 10, the third leg of a five-city European tour to study municipal administration and explore trade and investment opportunities for Taiwan's capital city.

    Ma was interviewed by BBC and other media outlets in England, talked with the president and professors of Cambridge University, and viewed urban development on both banks of the River Thames over the weekend.

    During the last three days of his London visit, Ma is scheduled to head to the headquarters of Think London -- the official inward investment agency for London that provides free, confidential and comprehensive advice to help international businesses set up and thrive in the city.

    He is also expected to hold closed-door meetings with various other British officials, think tank members and pro-Taiwan parliamentarians.

(By Jennifer Huang and Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/Li