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Editorial: Allies need to face the awful truth

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) recently responded to a letter he received from several US congressmen by saying the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government was responsible for stalling the arms-procurement bill.

Lien accused the government of delays in submitting the special budget for arms procurement to the legislature. He also queried why the size of the budget was much higher than the amount the Ministry of National Defense had proposed.

In addition, he rationalized the pan-blue camp's refusal to allow the bill onto the legislative agenda by saying that the arms deal had been rejected at the referendum held in tandem with last year's presidential election.

Lien's arguments are characteristically disingenuous. They also provide the real answer to why the bill has been put aside: The pan-blue camp, led by the KMT, has blocked it at every opportunity using whatever reason has seemed convenient at the time. And it seems that the pan-blue camp will continue to exclude the bill from legislative business into the future.

The awful truth is that the pan-blue camp has blocked the bill from proceeding to legislative review 72 times.

Lien said in his letter that the KMT believes Taiwan must be credible in its ability to defend itself, but also that it must not unilaterally change the cross-strait status quo. This "yes, but" argument clearly reflects the pro-China complex that energizes the pan-blue camp's refusal to do business with the Chen administration. It is reluctant to do anything that might anger Beijing. China is no longer a military threat since the KMT lost power: it is now the "motherland."

The dispatching of a navy frigate on Tuesday to near the Diaoyutais (釣魚台) with Legislative Speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) on board is a salutary example of how China's anti-Japan jingoism smoothly extends inside the KMT.

But for many Taiwanese, Japan is actually a regional ally in the face of China's military threat. It therefore makes perfect sense to set aside disputes over the Diaoyutais' sovereignty and work together with a good friend.

But KMT politicians, for example, have other commitments, including the need to juggle campaigning for party chairman with comforting China. Hence the provocative language in recent days toward Japan -- politically and militarily.

As Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said on Tuesday, if the pan-blue camp really thinks that the size of the special budget is excessive, then it could always put the issue to a debate.

But instead, it continues to block the bill. Simple discussion of the problem at hand is completely out of order.

Before a united national identity can finally be forged, Taiwan's allies and friends need to reflect on just who their true friends in this country really are.

Taiwan needs to be equipped with advanced weaponry to strengthen its ability to defend itself against China's military juggernaut.

The US must continue to exert pressure, therefore, on the pan-blue camp so that a road can be paved for the passage of the arms bill.
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