Officials ready if US goes to war

The government is ready with emergency measures should the US go to war over the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, senior officials from the Presidential Office say.

Among the measures that have been discussed are support for the stock market and ensuring the supply of daily necessities.

According to the officials, the national security system has been "mobilized."

Since the attacks on the US, government officials have been keeping an eye on rapidly developing events -- including the possibility of a war in Afghanistan -- and how that might affect Taiwan.

"Soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack took place, the Presidential Office immediately set up a cross-ministerial, high-level special unit," the Presidential Office aides said.

On Sept. 12, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) presided over high-level national security meetings that focused on how a US response to the terrorist attacks may affect Taiwan's national, economic and social security.

The National Security Bureau also briefed Chen on the latest developments.

"The major factor that President Chen is concerned about is what possible impact war between the US and terrorist organizations may have on Taiwan's financial markets and economic development," an aide said.

On Thursday, Chen met again with senior officials to discuss measures undertaken since the attacks.

But with events rapidly changing and with doubts remaining as to how forcefully the US might respond, government officials have had to plan for any eventuality.

"The meeting concentrated on `drafting all kinds of scripts' in order to respond to various changes in the international situation," the official said. Specifically, officials have focused on "having a large amount of daily necessities ready and plans for stabilizing the stock and currency markets once the US takes military action."

Should the US go to war, that would "have a profound effect on the international economy and trade," the senior aide noted.

"At this moment, even the US has yet to finalize its plans. Taiwan in no way can be sure of the length or scale of the war," the aide said.

But that doesn't mean the government can't be proactive in anticipating how events may play out and plan accordingly.

"The national security system and financial and economic departments must `guess the questions before the exam.' (考前猜題). That means having scripts and plans ready," the aide said.

A senior member of the National Security Council said government officials have been keeping "close contacts" with their American counterparts.

The contacts have included exchanges of information the US may find useful in its anti-terrorism fight.

"The Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice has been in touch with the US Justice Department," according to the National Security Council member. "Both sides have exchanged intelligence information on the members and activity of international terrorist organizations."

But the official also noted that cooperation between Taiwan and the US has not touched upon matters related to military aid or financial assistance.

"The US will surely consult with us on issues of military logistics support," the security official said. "As for military cooperation, what Taiwan can do for its part should be to help stabilize the Asia- Pacific region."