President urges U.S. not to drag feet on F-16 C/D deal
ROC Central News Agency
2007-09-07 12:28:32
Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has called for the United States to sell Taiwan advanced F-16 C/D jet fighters as early as possible to help upgrade its defense capability in the face of China's ever mounting military threat.
Speaking via videoconference to an audience at a Washington think tank Thursday, Chen said Taiwan's legislature has approved the budget for the F-16 C/Ds procurement plan in the hopes that the United States will begin price negotiations for the deal in October.
However, Chen said, information available to him shows that the Bush administration seems to be dragging its feet and may wait until after Taiwan's new president assumes office May 20, 2008 to approve the deal. According to the country's Constitution, Chen cannot seek a third term.
He told the audience at the American Enterprise Institute in the U.S. capital that China continues to deploy ballistic missiles along its southeastern coast targeting Taiwan. "The current number of missiles stands at nearly one thousand, and it is increasing by 120 to 150 per year, " Chen said.
Moreover, he said, China's People's Liberation Army has formulated a three-stage military plan for possible war with Taiwan -- namely establishing combat capabilities for comprehensive contingency response by the end of this year, for large-scale military engagement by 2010, and for complete victory in a decisive battle by 2015.
According to media reports, the Bush administration may delay its decision on the fighter deal to show its displeasure with Chen's push for a referendum on Taiwan's bid for U.N. membership under the name Taiwan, which U.S. officials worry could upset the delicate balance of power keeping peace in the Taiwan Strait by angering China.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the United States is required by its law -- the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 -- to provide Taiwan with sufficient defensive weapons.
Chen said it is hoped that the Bush administration can ratify the F-16 C/D deal soon to help upgrade Taiwan's airborne arsenal and beef up its air defense.
For a long time, Chen said, Taiwan has been like "an obedient child" of the United States. But, he said, misunderstandings sometimes arise because of a lack of high-level communications between the two sides. He said public reprimands by U.S. officials of Taiwan's referendum initiative have hurt the Taiwan people's feelings.
Faced with China's intensified diplomatic suppression, Chen said, Taiwan cannot use force to defend its present status quo as a sovereign independent state and can only use love and democracy to defend itself, namely by holding a referendum for its people to express their aspiration through the democratic process.
A referendum is the best way to underscore Taiwan's sovereignty and right to join the United Nations and to show the world that the majority of Taiwan's 23 million people support the quest, Chen said while fielding questions from the audience. "The fact that Taiwan is an independent country must not be ignored simply because of China's opposition," Chen said, adding that it is the right of the people of Taiwan to ask for proper representation in the United Nations.
History, he said, shows that compromise only leads to continued suppression and that "silence over injustice" only spawns aggression. He urged the United States not to let differences over the referendum alter the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
Acknowledging the gravity and difficulty of the U.N. bid, Chen quoted a line from a musical about Don Quixote, the fictional knight famous for futilely attacking windmills, saying he is willing to "dream the impossible dream" of Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations.
(By Sofia Wu)
enditem/Li
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