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Taiwan to continue arms build-up despite US sales freeze: gov't
Taipei (AFP) July 17, 2008 Taiwan said Thursday it would keep pushing for the procurement of self-defensive weapons from the United States despite Washington's recent decision to freeze arms sales to the island. "We'll step up communications with the United States," the island's leading arms supplier, defence ministry spokeswoman Chi Yu-lan told AFP without elaborating. Another defence ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity said "the defence ministry certainly is unhappy with the development, especially after the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) has set aside budget for the proposed arms sales." Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of the Hawaii-based US Pacific Command, told a forum in Washington Wednesday that the freeze on US arms sales to Taiwan was "administration policy." Keating was the first US official to confirm the freeze following reports last month that senior US officials were holding up an 11-billion-dollar weapons package and delivery of dozens of F-16 jet fighters for Taiwan, possibly until after President George W. Bush leaves office. Keating said the US decision was made in light of the warming ties between Taiwan and China, as well as Beijing's concerns. "President Ma Ying-jeou has made it clear that Taiwan must go ahead with its arms build-up" as a bargaining chip in rapprochement talks with Beijing, the second defence ministry officer said. Addressing hundreds of military cadets early this month, Ma said: "While Taiwan would never seek a military showdown, we will by no means avoid a war nor be afraid of taking it on" if necessary, amid China's repeated threats to invade Taiwan should it declare formal independence. Ties have begun warming since China-friendly Ma took office in May. He pledged to improve relations with the island's giant and booming neighbour starting with the first direct flights in nearly six decades early this month. However, the Taipei-based China Times reported earlier July that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had built a new ballistic missile base on China's southeastern coast opposite Taiwan and replaced some missiles deployed with improved versions. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com
China pointing new missiles at Taiwan: newspaper
Taipei (AFP) July 2, 2008A Taiwanese newspaper on Wednesday said China was pointing new ballistic missiles at the island despite improving ties that will see direct charter flights begin this week. |
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