US warships and fighter jets sighted

Minister of National Defense Wu Shih-wen (伍世文) yesterday confirmed reports that US warships passed through the Taiwan Strait recently but denied reports of simultaneous US fighter plane maneuvers in the Strait.

"The warships did not include the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier based in Japan. The ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait separately, not in groups. On each occasion, our naval ships were sent to monitor the movements," Wu said.

"Our air defense radar detected a number of US fighter planes in air space northeast of Taiwan, but not over the Taiwan Strait, as was reported," Wu said.

Wu made the remarks at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's defense committee in response to inquiries from legislators over a frontpage report in the Taiwan Daily. According to the report, there have been frequent trips through the Taiwan Strait and along sea routes off Taiwan's east coast by US Seventh Fleet warships over the past two weeks.

The report said US warships had been sighted more than 40 times in the Strait since the end of May, and on at least three occasions anti-submarine helicopters had taken off from their motherships to conduct anti-submarine warfare drills in the Strait.

Wu, however, denied anti-submarine helicopters of the US navy had maneuvered in the Taiwan Strait, but admitted a number of US fighter planes were discovered northeast of Taiwan at around the same time.

"The US planes did not appear in the Taiwan Straits," Wu said.

According to the Taiwan Daily, the concentration of US warships and fighter planes around Taiwan in recent weeks was intended as a display of US military capability to China.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) -- the de facto US embassy in Taiwan -- declined to comment on the matter, citing US government policy not to discuss the locations of the country's naval ships.

Meanwhile, a current visit to Taiwan by Singapore's defense minister Chen Chinyen (陳慶炎) may help strengthen Taiwan's military cooperation with Singapore.

Minister Wu met with Chen for about one hour yesterday morning before arriving at the legislature for the defense committee session.

At the legislature, lawmakers questioned Wu about the content of his discussions with Chen.

Wu declined to comment, except to express the hope that military cooperation between Taipei and Singapore -- which are not diplomatic allies -- would strengthen.

At yesterday's defense committee, legislators also pressed Wu on the defense strategy announced by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) last Friday during his first review of troops in the capacity of commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Lawmakers questioned the viability of Chen's proposal, which involves deterring invaders before they reach Taiwan proper.

In reply, Wu said: "The armed forces will seek to implement this strategy whether or not they have the capability to do so. It is something that they must do. The strategy has three steps. The first involves stopping invaders from leaving their territory; the second, engaging them in full-scale battle at sea; the last, annihilating them before they are able to land on our territory."

"The strategy is aimed at preventing war from breaking out on the Penghu islands and Taiwan proper. We have to work in this direction."