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Secrecy of war games is reason for Ma not attending: spokesman

ROC Central News Agency

2008-04-08 17:37:49

    Taipei, April 8 (CNA) President-elect Ma Ying-jeou has declined an invitation to attend this year's computerized warfare simulation because he believes it should be top secrets and open exclusively to the president and his subordinates, Ma's spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said Tuesday.

    Lo said that "it is not appropriate" for Ma, who will only assume office on May 20, to be part of the secret operations scheduled for April 25-27.

    The Presidential Office said earlier in the day that it regretted that Ma could not take part in this year's war games because of his "tight schedule," saying that Ma "has missed an opportunity to learn the comprehensive operations of the national security system."

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

    Lo noted that sources at the Presidential Office said that after Ma won the March 22 presidential election, President Chen had instructed the National Security Council to invite Ma to observe the simulated war games to highlight his determination to push for an institutionalized mechanism for a "peaceful transfer of power."

    This year's war games will have President Chen go to a command center in suburban Taipei, while Vice President Annette Lu will go to another command center, with the two communicating via video conference a warfare response.

    Lo said that since the war-preparation exercises will be a top secret within the government and the Presidential Office, Ma's camp concluded that it is not appropriate for him to participate.

    The simulated war games, which will have administrative, national security officials and government heads converging in the command center in suburban Taipei, have been carried out each year since 2005.

    The purpose is to provide a reference to national leaders and department heads in their decision making so as to help them familiarize themselves with how to react to crises and to upgrade their capacity in handling crises when the government is on the verge of wars.

(By Lilian Wu)

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