U.S. MILITARY EXPERT REMINDS TAIWAN OF CHINA'S THREAT
ROC Central News Agency
2007-02-06 17:29:43
Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) Professor Bernard Cole of the National War College in Washington D.C. reminded Taiwan Tuesday that it faces a great military threat from China, advising that the island should never neglect this factor in its military strategic analyses.
The U.S. expert in war affairs sounded the warning at a forum on regional security and national defense, organized by the Ministry of National Defense, to explain his previous remarks which cast doubt on the combat capability and will of Taiwan's military force.
Last month Cole expressed concerns in his speech at the Brookings Institute in Washington D.C. that Taiwan's air force could lose its air superiority in the Taiwan Strait as it has not moved forward while Beijing's air force has been improving by leaps and bounds.
Cole said he voiced his concerns to remind Taiwan of the existence of China's military threat.
During the Taipei forum, Cole also spoke of his opinions on Taiwan's plans to engage in organization adjustment and to expand the recruitment of voluntary military personnel. "It is a long way to go, " he said, noting that Taiwan needs to first make efforts to resolve its financial and military investment problems.
Also participating in the two-day forum opened Tuesday are Randy Schriver, former U.S. deputy assistance secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Dan Blumenthal, vice chairman of the U.S.-China Security and Economic Review Commission and former senior director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, as well as many retired military officers from Japan, U.S. and India.
Cole visited Taiwan during the Cold War era in his capacity as a U.S. Navy officer.
(By Elizabeth Hsu)
ENDITEM/Li/jnc
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