ARMS PURCHASE ISSUE COMPLICATED BY NUC SPAT: KMT CHAIRMAN
ROC Central News Agency
2006-03-17 21:31:15
Taipei, March 18 (CNA) 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.
He said when he recently met with former U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, Armitage was pleased to learn the KMT had proposed an arms purchase policy that would boost Taiwan's defenses while showing its determination to defend itself.
However, with the NUC controversy, many inside the KMT were concerned that if the party helped pass the government's bill on arms procurement, it would be seen as endorsing the president's decision to do away with the NUC and its guidelines, Ma said.
He noted that the KMT's "consensus" on the arms purchase issue was based on four key factors: defense needs, cross-Taiwan Strait ties, the government's finances and public opinion.
He said that since the party has set a "broad principle" on the issue, details about putting items on the priority list should be decided by the party's legislative caucus, which would take into account the public opinion.
Ma made his remarks during an interview with broadcast media.
(By S.C. Chang)
ENDITEM/diG
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
