De-militarizing Kinmen risky: premier
ROC Central News Agency
2008-06-19 21:12:04
Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Rashly withdrawing troops from outlying Kinmen Island in the name of developing tourism would be risky, Premier Liu Chao-hsiung said Thursday. "Pulling the army out of Kinmen Island is not just an economic issue but would also deeply involve national security and defense concerns, " Liu told reporters during an informal gathering. "It would also be very risky for the government to decide the issue based on a referendum without fully understanding the overall situation and having comprehensive communications with the public, " he warned.
The premier promised that the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) will iron out a blueprint to help the Kinmen county government boost economic development across the board over the long term for the island in line with the expansion of the mini links -- direct ferry services maintained between Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu islands and China's Fujian Province.
Kinmen Magistrate Lee Chu-feng broached the idea of a troop pullout to promote tourism during a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou June 11, out of grave concern that the opening of direct charter flights between Taiwan proper and China from July 4 will marginalize Kinmen's role in cross-strait exchanges.
Although the central government has agreed to enhance the mini links by allowing residents from Taiwan proper to use the routes, Lee complained that complementary measures have not been put in place, according to local media reports. "No flights are available between Taiwan and Kinmen after 3 p.m.," Lee was quoted as saying by a local newspaper.
The speaker and the deputy speaker of the Kinmen County Council have both expressed opposition to Lee's troop withdrawal proposal.
(By Flor Wang)
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