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MND cautiously optimistic about U.S. arms package

ROC Central News Agency

08/09/30 16:12:16

By Elizabeth Hsu and Steve Bercic

Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense is still holding out hope that the United States will agree to sell a package of weapons systems to Taiwan, even though the U.S. Congress will soon go into recess.

"It has not yet come to the last moment. We of course are still cautiously optimistic and hold out hope that the arms package will be approved," said MND spokeswoman Maj. Gen. Lisa Chi.

Taiwan is seeking to buy seven weapons systems from the United States -- namely anti-tank missiles, Apache helicopters, Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries, diesel-electric submarines, P3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, sea-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and Black Eagle helicopters.

The U.S. State Department told Taiwan media stationed in Washington, D.C. last Friday that the arms procurement package is still under inter-departmental screening by the administration and that it would notify Congress immediately upon a decision being reached.

Congress was scheduled to enter into recess Sept.26, but the recess was postponed for a week due to a deadlock over a US$700 billion bailout package for Wall Street.

In response to reporters' questions on the announcement, Chi said that the ministry's resolve and stance on the arms package remains unchanged as it awaits the U.S. administration's decision.

She added that although the U.S. Congress is currently focused on the bailout, it could also deal with other items during the session, possibly including the arms procurement package.

The cautious optimism contrasted with media reports that the arms package had no chance of passage this year. The White House has yet to send the Taiwan arms package notification to Congress, which is set to adjourn soon before meeting again in November.

Although a post-session notification is legal, it seems highly possible that the package will be left to the next U.S. administration to deal with.

On Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min's current visit to the United States to attend a defense industry conference, Chi said the minister hopes to clarify the government's defense policies with the aim of facilitating an increase in Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation and exchanges.

Chen, who will also visit Taiwan's naval and air force officers being trained in California and Arizona, is the first Taiwan defense minister to travel to the United States since 2002, when Tang Yao-ming attended a similar conference in Texas.

On whether the ministry has a backup plan in the event that the U.S. arms procurement package is stalled or scrapped, Chi said that the ministry has prepared accompanying measures to help build up the nation's defenses.