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President-elect declines to attend simulated war games

ROC Central News Agency

2008-04-08 14:15:59

    Taipei, April 8 (CNA) The Presidential Office on Tuesday said it regretted that President-elect Ma Ying-jeou couldn't take part in this year's computerized warfare simulation to learn more about the operation of the nation's security system.

    The officials were responding to Ma's decision, announced through spokesman Lo Chih-chiang, to decline an invitation from the Presidential Office to observe the computer war games because of a "tight schedule. "

    Ma has been busy traveling around Taiwan to thank supporters and visit business leaders and political figures after winning the March 22 election.

    The president-elect has "missed an opportunity to learn the comprehensive operations of the national security system, " a Presidential Office official said, but added, "the computerized war games won't be affected by Ma's absence, it will continue as scheduled."

    Media reports said recently that the National Security Council has mapped out the annual computerized warfare simulation.

    Under the plan, President Chen Shui-bian will go to a command center in suburban Taipei, while Vice President Annette Lu will go to another command center and conduct the simulated war games via videoconference between April 25-27.

    The officials noted that the office has begun the process of handing over power to Ma, starting with a meeting between President Chen and the president-elect on April 1 to brief him on classified information related to national defense, cross-strait relations and diplomatic issues.

    On April 3, Presidential Office Secretary-General Tan Sun Chen also met with Chan Chuen-po, convener of Ma's transition team.

    The officials said that during the first transition of power between the two parties in 2000, most of the contact between incoming and outgoing officials were largely ceremonial and concerned primarily with the presidential inauguration.

    But the transition in 2008 has involved briefings in a wide range of areas, with not only President Chen briefing Ma on diplomatic secrets, but also Tan Sun Chen meeting with officials from Ma's camp.

    The Presidential Office will work with Ma's team to "provide the necessary assistance should needs arise," the officials said.

(By Lilian Wu)

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