Taiwan needs to minimize China threat: president
ROC Central News Agency
09/02/05 15:02:14
By Y.F. Low
Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated Thursday that Taiwan needs to minimize the threat posed by China in order to uphold the country's best interests.
In line with this goal, Ma said, the government has adopted a China policy that is aimed at maintaining cross-Taiwan Strait stability and promoting regional peace to safeguard the security of the Taiwan people.
Alongside the recent improvements in relations with China, Ma said, his administration will seek further progress by encouraging the two sides to continue to put aside their political differences and work more closely together to create a "win-win" situation.
While doing so, Taiwan's military must not relax its vigilance, but rather should maintain its readiness, Ma said, noting that strong defense preparedness was what has protected Taiwan from possible attacks by China over the past decades.
According to the president, the purpose of defense is to achieve peace, rather than to wage war.
However, Taiwan's efforts to avoid war with China does not mean it is afraid of war, the president stressed.
In the coming year, Ma said, his administration will continue working toward its goals of introducing a voluntary military service system and streamlining and modernizing the country's armed forces.
Ma made the remarks while presiding over a military promotion ceremony.
In the latest military personnel reshuffle, Deputy Defense Minister Adm. Lin Chen-yi was promoted to the post of chief of General Staff, replacing Gen. Hou Shou-yeh, who has been appointed as a strategic adviser to the president.
Meanwhile, Army Commanding General Chao Shih-chang succeeded Lin as deputy defense minister, and the post vacated by Chao was filled by Yang Tien-hsiao, formerly head of the General Political Warfare Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense.
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