MND NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CHINA REMOVING MISSILES
ROC Central News Agency
2007-06-06 14:29:19
Taipei, June 6 (CNA) A senior defense official said Wednesday that it is not optimistic that China will remove its missiles targeting Taiwan to pave the way for cross-strait talks.
Vice Chief of the General Staff Peng Sheng-chu made the remarks while giving a report on how to cope with high-tech development of the military at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's National Defense Committee.
Legislator Lin Yu-feng of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) noted that KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said recently that China removing the missiles is a prerequisite for the holding of cross-strait talks, asking Peng to give his comment on Ma's remarks.
Peng said that he cannot give his personal opinion but that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is not optimistic that China will easily remove the missiles.
Lin also noted that China has 11 guided missile bases at which missiles aimed at Taiwan have been deployed, asking Peng which of the bases poses the greatest threat to Taiwan.
Peng said that the point is not which base poses the greatest threat, noting that any missiles that can reach Taiwan proper represent a threat.
President Chen Shui-bian recently called for China to honor the Olympic spirit of fostering world peace by removing all the nearly 1,000 missiles it has deployed against Taiwan. Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games.
(By Lilian Wu)
enditem/Li
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