Carrier patrol normal: admiral

Military marching band members have a final rehearsal in front of the Presidential Office yesterday for the presidential inauguration ceremony today. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Admiral Fei Hung-po (費鴻波) yesterday, on the eve of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration, confirmed that the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier is patrolling the western Pacific Ocean between Japan and the Philippines, but added that the patrol was part of annual US Navy exercises.

"I cannot say that the US Navy does this [patrolling areas near Taiwan's territorial waters] for no reason," Fei said.

"However, I cannot comment on this on behalf of the US Navy," he said.

Fei made the remarks when answering a request by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tang Huo-sheng (湯火聖) to confirm whether the Kitty Hawk is conducting military activities in the area.

Fei urged the public to stay calm in the light of the carrier's presence and the US Air Force deploying B-52 bombers in Guam.

"Whatever they [US Navy and Air Force] did, they were merely trying to help retain peace across the Taiwan Strait. We do not have to panic," the admiral said.

Lawmakers yesterday also voiced their concern in the legislature about stability in the Taiwan Strait during Chen's inauguration, in the wake of China's threatening statement on Sunday that accused Chen of paving the way for Taiwan independence and vowing to crush any such attempt.

People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chao Liang-yen (趙良燕) asked Fei whether the Kitty Hawk's activities in the area could be linked to the presidential inauguration. Fei said that the two events were in no way related.

"According to our communications with the US Navy, the Kitty Hawk annually visits Hong Kong during the first six months of the year and Singapore or Australia during the remaining six months of the same year.

"We shall not comment on this," Fei said.

He confirmed that the aircraft carrier's activities and the deployment of the B-52 bombers in Guam will definitely help and encourage Taiwan to maintain peace in the area.

Fei also said that high-ranking military officials "cannot guarantee that China will not challenge Taiwan with unusual military activities during the inauguration on May 20 [today]," but added that he had no information suggesting that this would happen.

"Our regular military exercises remain unchanged and everything is on the right track. We do not have to panic," Fei said.