Tue, Feb 14, 2006 - Page 1 News List

Hubbub over Ma's remarks escalates

HE SAID/SHE SAID Pan-blue officials delivered contradictory remarks about talks with China, while the pan-greens asked for Ma Ying-jeou to clarify his stance on unification

STAFF WRITER WITH CNA

Saying that Taiwan and China should discuss the issue to break the current impasse across the Taiwan Strait, Wang said the people of Taiwan will undoubtedly believe Beijing has good faith should China remove its missiles targeting the nation.

If some breakthroughs could be made in this field, people on both sides of the strait could feel much more assured, according to Wang.

But Beijing has so far failed to drop its military threats against Taiwan despite the fact that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) made the "five noes" pledge in his inauguration speeches in 2000 and 2004, Chen Chin-jun said.

Ma also said on Sunday that the KMT is not opposed to maintaining Taiwan's annual defense budget at 3 percent of the country's GDP if government finances can support it.

In an address delivered to representatives of the overseas Taiwanese communities in England, Ma said the KMT unwaveringly supports the notion that Taiwan needs to have a sufficient self-defense capability.

also see story:

Editorial: Ma must back up his words

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