Chief of the General Staff General Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) yesterday warned that China is trying to undermine Taiwan's government politically and economically, while urging the nation to keep its defensive forces in peak condition.
"The Chinese tactic of using Taiwan businessmen and civilians to influence the Taiwan government is aimed at suppressing our economic development and competitive power," Tang said.
"It just part of the proof that shows China has never changed its intention to destroy Taiwan," he added.
Tang made the warning yesterday on national Armed Forces Day, as he delivered a speech at a ceremony honoring a group of servicemen selected annually as model members of the armed forces.
Commenting on economic and political matters is unusual for Tang, who normally restricts his speeches to the military arena.
Tang's warning was interpreted by local media as a message to the government leadership that the easing of restrictions upon business investment in China -- one of the conclusions reached at the recently concluded Economic Development Advisory Conference -- would be counterproductive to interests of national security.
Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General Huang Shui-sheng (黃穗生) said the media had misconstrued General Tang's intentions in delivering his speech.
"General Tang is just trying to let the public know what kind of tactics China now uses against Taiwan. He did it for the sake of national security," Huang told the Taipei Times.
"The military will not rail against government policy. If the government decides to open direct sea and air links with China, the military will cooperate fully," Huang said.
Andrew Yang (楊念祖), a military analyst at National Sun Yat-sen University, said General Tang's warnings against China represent a continuation of his efforts to make servicemen understand that China is an enemy to Taiwan.
"General Tang has been making similar efforts over the past few months. He wants servicemen to know what they are fighting for and who their enemy is," Yang said.
The general also reminded his audience of the nature of the military threat that Taiwan is facing from China.
"It is estimated that by 2005, China will pose a substantial threat to Taiwan in areas ranging from air and sea forces to intercontinental ballistic missiles. It will also be a big threat to the security of the Asian-Pacific region," Tang said. "Currently, China is holding a series of military exercises off Fujian Province. These exercises are meant to intimidate the Taiwan people."
"Since 1989, China has been increasing its defense spending by double digits each year to promote its military modernization project," he said.
The general also called on the public not to relax vigilance against potential invasion from China.
"We should not hold the illusion that war won't break out across the Taiwan Strait before 2008 just because China is to hold the Olympic Games that year," he said.
"We should instead strengthen our military training and upgrade our combat readiness. We must strive to maintain our defensive capabilities," he added.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source