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AIT director says partisanship is frustrating the US

The US' de facto ambassador yesterday again urged the legislature to pass the long-delayed arms procurement package, saying the US is increasingly frustrated over excessive partisanship becoming an obstacle to Taiwan's security.

"The time has come for all political parties to realize that security is too important to be treated in this fashion," American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young said.

The US wants to see cross-strait differences resolved peacefully and for that to happen Taiwan must be in a position to defend itself, Young said.

Young said that the US government has been loyal in providing the tools for Taiwan's defense and honest in its suggestion about Taiwan's needs.

"We have been very patient. Let me now be straightforward," he said.

Young made the remarks last night while speaking to members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei at an annual dinner, attended by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and other top officials.

Chen reiterated his pledge to the US government, saying Taiwan is well aware of where the US interest lies and Taiwan's advantages and constraints.

"For peace in the Taiwan Strait and regional prosperity, Taiwan will not only keep its promise to enhance its self-defense capabilities but also uphold its pledges to maintain the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense yesterday made public its schedule of military exercises for the year.

The ministry said that the nation's largest annual drill, the "Han Kuang" (Han Glory) series of exercises, would be held next month and would last four weeks. Also next month, joint operations exercises invloving the air force, navy and army will be held. Similar exercises will be held in May, August, October and December.

An air-raid drill will likely be held in May. A material preparedness exercise will be held sometime during the next two months.

Also in May, the military will hold a joint air force-navy exercise, conducting a similar operation again in December. The air force's missile units will have an annual exercise in May.

Army and marine missile units will conduct exercises in May and November, while the navy will have missile exercises in May and September. The army will also conduct its annual airborne training exercises in May.
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