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PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES FOR STALLED ARMS PROCUREMENT PLAN

ROC Central News Agency

2006-10-14 10:33:08
(repeat)

    Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian apologized Friday to the U.S. government, Congress and people for Taiwan's delay in passing a bill on procuring three big-ticket weapons that the United States has agreed to sell Taiwan.

    Chen made the remarks while meeting with a group of young political elite of the U.S. Republican Party who are on a goodwill visit to Taiwan.

    U.S. President George W. Bush approved a robust arms sales package to Taiwan in 2001. Since his re-election in 2004, Chen said his administration has been seeking the opposition-controlled legislature's approval of a bill that would pave the way for Taiwan to strike a deal with the Bush administration on the package, which comprises eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft. "Two and half years have passed, but the bill is still pending legislative approval. I apologize to Bush, the U.S. Congress and people who have shown their concern and support for Taiwan's security," Chen told his guests.

    To signify the Taiwan people's will and resolve to defend their own national security, Chen said, his administration will continue to communicate with the Legislative Yuan in hopes of winning its consent to the critical arms procurement bill.

    In addition to pushing for an early passage of the bill, Chen said his administration will also take other concrete steps to beef up the country's defense capability and prevent the military balance across the Taiwan Strait from tilting in favor of China, adding that his administration is determined to raise the country's defense budget to 2.85 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year and to 3 percent in 2008.

    Referring to a second failed opposition-initiated recall motion against him in the legislature, Chen said he hopes the legislature will from now on focus on deliberation of major bills related to people's livelihoods and national well-being, including the arms bill.

    Touching on Taiwan-U.S. relations, Chen said he believes the coming two years will be a crucial juncture for political developments in both countries, with the United States holding mid-term elections later this year and Taiwan holding elections for mayors of its two largest cities -- Taipei and Kaohsiung -- late this year, legislative elections next year and presidential election in 2008.

    On North Korea's recent claim that it conducted a nuclear test, Chen condemned the act as provocative and atrocious. "North Korea's nuclear development will not only threaten stability in the Korean penisula but will also impact peace and security in entire Asia, " he warned.

    Chen also expressed worries about China's continued military buildup and its even-mounting missile deployment against Taiwan, saying that there have not been any collective security mechanism to deal with cross-Taiwan Strait disputes. He said a multilateral dialogue mechanism similar to the six-party talks on the Korean penisula issues should be created to ensure cross-strait peace and stability.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J