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Taiwan still needs U.S. help in national security: president

ROC Central News Agency

2009/06/19 22:24:43

By Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday Taiwan still needs help from the United States in defending its national security even if once tense relations with China have grown more relaxed since he took power in May 2008.

Ma made the statement during a meeting with visiting U.S.

scholars, including former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Shirk.

The visitors expressed concern over Washington's role in the Taiwan Strait and over the development of Taiwan-China relations, but Ma contended that changes in cross-strait ties over the past year were beneficial to Taiwan, China and the U.S.

Despite the improvement in relations, however, Taiwan still needs U.S. help in safeguarding national security, Ma said, reiterating his desire to continue to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, Ma also reiterated his call for a "diplomatic truce" between Taiwan and China, saying he would not block moves by Taiwan's diplomatic allies move to pursue economic relations with China.

While Taiwan is actively trying to improve cross-strait ties and expand its relations with diplomatic allies, it is also working to maintain good relations with old friends Japan and the U.S. and find a good balance among all of its relations, the president said.

Shirk described Ma's cross-strait policy as practical and said she was deeply impressed by the progress made in cross-strait ties over the past year.

Shirk, an expert on Chinese politics, was invited to attend an international academic symposium organized by National Taiwan University's Center for China Studies, slated for Saturday.