Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), referring to a recent Pentagon report, told the US' top representative to Taiwan yesterday that China has returned the goodwill of Taipei and Washington by increasing its military buildup.
"If Taiwan's goodwill can be exchanged for a commitment to peace from China, it is worth it," Lu told Douglas Paal, the director of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
"But if Taiwan's genuine efforts are met with nothing but military threats from China, we must think it over," Lu said.
Lu highlighted the latest Pentagon report on China during her first official meeting with Paal, who reached Taipei on July 1 to assume his new post.
Lu said the evaluation of the Chinese military capabilities in the report reflects Beijing's continued threat to Taipei.
The report said Beijing is honing "credible options" to attack Taiwan and could move with scant warning against the nation. The report also said China is exploring coercive strategies designed to bring Taiwan to heel quickly, such as possible air and missile strikes or a naval blockade.
Despite the political stalemate across the Strait, Taiwanese businessmen have jumped on the bandwagon to invest in China and have, in a way, assisted the development of China's information-technology industry, Lu was quoted as saying in a Presidential Office press release.
Lu went on to question the legitimacy of Taiwanese investment in China should Beijing refuse to relinquish the possibility of seizing Taiwan by force, according to the press release.
Paal expressed his gratitude for the hearty welcome he has received since arriving in Taiwan earlier this month, the press release said.
Paal told the vice president that the welcome demonstrated the longstanding friendship between the people of the two countries, adding that he will do his best to overcome the challenges ahead of him, the press release said.
Paal is slated to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (
RSS