Source: DTN News / Int'l Media(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - May 20, 2010: Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday the island will not engage in an arms race with China, despite 
the threat it poses, highlighted by the mainland's efforts to acquire an aircraft carrier.
Taiwan will maintain a "small but elite" force to defend itself while continuing to promote trade ties with China, Ma told a press conference marking the second anniversary of his inauguration.
"We cannot possibly engage in an arms race with China. We won't buy an aircraft carrier just because China is developing one. We have limited national resources, and we have to make the best uses of them," he said.
"We have to maintain a small but elite, small but strong force to defend ourselves, to efficiently deter threats and increase the cost the mainland would have to pay for invading Taiwan."
Ties between Taiwan and the mainland have improved markedly since Ma took office in 2008 vowing to boost trade ties and tourism, with his government keen to concluding a major trade pact with China next month.
Meanwhile, Taiwan will continue to seek to buy F16 fighter jets from the United States to replace its ageing F5 fleet and strengthen its aerial defence, Ma added.
Taiwan's national security chief said late last year that China had started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts warned could further tip the military balance between the two sides.
Taiwan's defence ministry has said that China is continuing its military build-up against the island despite warming ties, deploying more than 1,300 ballistic and cruise missiles.
"We do not take China's military threats lightly and we will not change our strategy for an efficient deterrence. But we cannot afford not to improve ties because of the missiles or we risk losing our competitiveness," Ma said.
Ma said he does not ruled out meeting Chinese leaders but stressed that there is no plan and no timetable for such a move.
Beijing still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting to be reunified, by force if necessary, although the island has governed itself since 1949.
the threat it poses, highlighted by the mainland's efforts to acquire an aircraft carrier.
Taiwan will maintain a "small but elite" force to defend itself while continuing to promote trade ties with China, Ma told a press conference marking the second anniversary of his inauguration.
"We cannot possibly engage in an arms race with China. We won't buy an aircraft carrier just because China is developing one. We have limited national resources, and we have to make the best uses of them," he said.
"We have to maintain a small but elite, small but strong force to defend ourselves, to efficiently deter threats and increase the cost the mainland would have to pay for invading Taiwan."
Ties between Taiwan and the mainland have improved markedly since Ma took office in 2008 vowing to boost trade ties and tourism, with his government keen to concluding a major trade pact with China next month.
Meanwhile, Taiwan will continue to seek to buy F16 fighter jets from the United States to replace its ageing F5 fleet and strengthen its aerial defence, Ma added.
Taiwan's national security chief said late last year that China had started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts warned could further tip the military balance between the two sides.
Taiwan's defence ministry has said that China is continuing its military build-up against the island despite warming ties, deploying more than 1,300 ballistic and cruise missiles.
"We do not take China's military threats lightly and we will not change our strategy for an efficient deterrence. But we cannot afford not to improve ties because of the missiles or we risk losing our competitiveness," Ma said.
Ma said he does not ruled out meeting Chinese leaders but stressed that there is no plan and no timetable for such a move.
Beijing still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting to be reunified, by force if necessary, although the island has governed itself since 1949.
No comments:
Post a Comment