NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OF CHINESE ARMED FORCES: DEFENSE MINISTER
ROC Central News Agency
2006-02-24 18:34:10
Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) 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.
Answering questions at an interpellation session in the Legislative Yuan, Lee said that incoming military intelligence about China is analyzed at the intelligence center of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) on a daily basis and that so far there has been no unusual movement by Chinese military forces. "Everything has been business as usual so far, " Lee said, adding that the guided missiles deployed on China's eastern coast remain in their usual positions, while Chinese fighter planes are showing no abnormally frequent take-offs and landings.
On a separate occasion, ministry spokesman Liu Chih-chien denied media reports that the military will send an extra 20,000 infantry troops to Taipei to prevent the PLA from executing a "decapitation" operation.
In his Lunar New Year's address, Chen declared his intention to abolish the National Unification Council and the National Unification Guidelines, a move that was later endorsed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Central Standing Committee.
Chen has refused to back down, despite U.S. pressure and warnings by the Bush administration about the possible consequences of his actions.
Two major opposition parties -- the Kuomintang and the People First Party -- have cautioned that the president's move could provoke China and cause the tension to soar between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
(By Han Nai-kuo)
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