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Coast guard to take over defense of former frontline islets

ROC Central News Agency

2013/09/06 17:11:34

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) Taiwan police or coast guard will be responsible for the defense of the former frontline islands of Dadan and Erdan during peacetime after the administration of the islets is transferred from the military to the Kinmen County government, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said Friday.

The ministry will comply with whatever decision the government makes and has no particular position on the issue, according to MND spokesman Luo Shou-he.

He was responding to media reports that the military will withdraw from Dadan and Erdan in June next year, when the administration of the two islands is scheduled to be transferred to the Kinmen County government.

The Kinmen local government is planning to develop the two islands for tourism purposes, according to the reports.

Defense of the islands will be turned over to the country's police or coast guard, Luo said.

Dadan and Erdan, which are part of the Kinmen archipelago, are currently administered by the Kinmen Defense Command of the ROC Army.

In the future, the Kinmen Defense Command will take control of the two islands only in the event of war, Luo said.

(By Angela Tsai and Y.F. Low)