Defense Ministry urges U.S. to continue arms sales to Taiwan
ROC Central News Agency
2013/06/09 15:22:31
Taipei, June 9 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense urged the United States on Sunday to keep its commitment to sell Taiwan defensive weapons after Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the U.S. to end the practice.
The ministry urged Washington to continue to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons based on the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and the Six Assurances offered by late U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982.
In a two-day meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in California, Xi asked the American president to adhere to the U.S. commitment to follow the 'one-China' principle and stop selling weapons to Taiwan, according to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
Obama replied that his administration clearly understood its commitment to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, including providing defensive weapons, said Ben Rhodes, one of Obama's national security advisers.
Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said after the summit's conclusion that Taiwan would continue to make arms purchase requests to the U.S. as planned.
President Ma Ying-jeou, meanwhile, said Taiwan's military will maintain its goal of effective deterrence and a strong defense.
But he also said that the Republic of China, as a peace-loving country, will seek to resolve disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
Ma made the comments at the premiere of a documentary featuring Taiwan's army frogmen, airborne special operations forces and navy underwater units.
According to the Defense Ministry, the U.S. has provided Taiwan with defensive weapons systems worth more than US$18 billion since Ma took office in 2008.
(By Kelven Huang and Jamie Wang)
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