MND DENIES REPORTS ON INSTALLATION OF MISSILE BASE ON OUTLYING ISLAND
ROC Central News Agency
2006-10-16 14:07:39
Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) denied reports Monday that it is installing a missile base on an outlying island near China to serve as a launch platform for direct attacks against China.
The MND was responding to reports carried by the United Daily News, a local newspaper, which also said that the ministry is building the nation's first ever "strategic forces" and that the strategic forces will have a small-scale combat readiness capacity by next year.
The MND said in a press release that no missile base is being installed on an outlying island, adding that no U.S. general came to Taiwan in August to express concern about the matter as reported. "The media reports are pure speculation, and the MND regrets that the newspaper did not first check with the ministry before publishing them," the ministry said.
The ministry has followed the strategic concept of "effective deterrence and resolute defense" in building up the nation's armed forces to ensure security in the Taiwan Strait, it stressed.
It further said that it hopes the media will carefully verify its reports in the future, noting that unfounded news reports could mislead others and trigger serious concerns in the international community as well as affect the nation's security.
(By Lilian Wu)
enditem/Li
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