A blue-ribbon US congressional advisory panel, expressing concern over the likelihood of a US-China clash if China attacks Taiwan, is urging the administration of US President George W. Bush to approve arms sales to Taiwan and promote joint military activities between Taiwan, the US and other allies to enable a more international response in case of a Chinese attack.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, finalizing an annual report slated to be made public next month, approved the recommendations in a series of meetings this past week.
A copy of the commission's draft report was obtained by the Taipei Times. While the report was not yet final, any changes to the latest draft were expected to be only minor "tweaking" for grammar, usage and such, according to a commission source.
In another recommendation, the commission urged the administration to help Taiwan take part in the WHO and international bodies that do not require statehood.
But at the last minute it pulled back on recommendations in an earlier draft that asked the administration to consider Taiwan's request for a free-trade agreement and to encourage Taiwan and China to boost transportation and other cross-strait links.
"The Commission recommends that Congress encourage the administration to continue to work with Taiwan to modernize its military, enhance Taiwan's capabilities for operating jointly with US and allied forces, and make available to Taiwan the defensive weapons it needs for its military forces," the draft recommendation says.
The recommendation comes at a time when the Bush administration is balking at Taiwan's request for 66 advanced F-16 fighter aircraft. It echoes a resolution passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives earlier this month prodding the administration to stop blocking the sale.
A 15-page section on Taiwan in the report, which covers overall US-China security and economic relations, expresses concern over the level of Taiwan's military preparedness as the military balance in the Strait "has shifted significantly in Beijing's favor," and examines how that would impact the US role in the event of a cross-strait military blowup.
The commission indicated that the Bush administration has already begun to promote a broader international response to any hostile Chinese military action against Taiwan.
"The United States is mindful of the reality that Taiwan cannot long survive an attack or invasion by the PRC [People's Republic of China] without intervention by US and possibly other allied forces," the report states.
"Any success in defeating PRC aggression against Taiwan will be greatly aided by the degree to which Taiwan and the forces of other nations that intervene on its behalf are able to cooperate and share the tasks of such an effort," the report says.
"For this reason, the United States has urged Taiwan to enhance its ability to conduct joint operations with allied forces, and Taiwan has made significant strides toward this goal. US forces have been advising Taiwan military planners about how to conduct joint operations," it says.
Because it cannot win on its own, Taiwan has concentrated on ways to hold off Chinese forces "until US and possibly other allied forces can arrive to help halt an attack and repel an invasion. Ultimately, Taiwan's entire defense strategy is rooted in US military intervention," it says.
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