No plans for cross-strait CBMs: Defense Ministry
ROC Central News Agency
2011/03/31 18:29:38
By Huang Chi-kuang, Luo Kuang-jen & Bear Lee
Taipei, March 31 (CNA) Taiwan said Thursday that it has no plans to establish cross-Taiwan Strait confidence-building measures (CBMs) as have been called for by China.
"The proposed CBMs would involve national security and the Ministry of National Defense will follow the government's established policy on China in pushing forward such a mechanism gradually, steadily and practically if necessary, " military spokesman Luo Shao-ho said in response to a renewed Beijing proposal for military exchanges across the strait.
In its 2010 defense white paper released earlier in the day, Beijing said China and Taiwan could begin military exchanges, explore the feasibility of forming CBMs and launch talks on "political relations between the two sides prior to national unification."
The white paper goes so far as to say that "both sides should finally negotiate the end of hostility by reaching a peace agreement based on the 'one China' principle."
Following the improved cross-strait relations since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, China has repeatedly called for cross-strait CBMs, which have always been categorically rejected by Taiwan.
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