TAIWAN WILL 'DEFINITELY NOT' DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS: PREMIER
ROC Central News Agency
2006-11-10 20:05:41
Taipei, Nov. 10 (CNA) Premier Su Tseng-chang and Defense Minister Lee Jye told the legislature Friday that Taiwan will "definitely not" develop nuclear weapons.
The premier made the statement in response to opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Su Chi, who asked the premier if he would support a legislative proposal that would restrict research on nuclear weapons.
The KMT lawmaker suggested that the government proclaim its determination not to develop nuclear arms, as South Korea and Japan have done in the wake of North Korea's nuclear tests.
Lee said the Ministry of National Defense honors international conventions and will "definitely not" try to own, develop, acquire, stockpile or use nuclear weapons.
In response to United Nations Resolution No. 1540 of Oct. 2004 requesting all countries in the world to legislate a law restraining nuclear research and development, Su Chi said he will draft a proposal to that effect. "Will the Executive Yuan support my draft law?" he asked.
The premier said that Su's planned draft does not appear to be in contradiction with the government's stance against nuclear weapons, and that he supposed the government would support it after gaining a better understanding of the U.N. resolution.
(By S.C. Chang)
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