National Security Bureau (NSB) director Tsai Tsao-ming (
"It does not make any sense for China to move short-range ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan, say by 300km, since these missiles are still capable of reaching the island within that range," Tsai said.
"If China is willing to permanently remove all the short-range ballistic missiles that could be a threat to Taiwan, it would mean a lot to us," he said.
Tsai made the remarks at a closed-door meeting of the defense committee of the legislature, in response to inquiries from several lawmakers. They wanted to know the NSB's views on China's intention to move or reduce the number of short-range ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan in exchange for a US agreement to stop arms sales to the nation.
The issue was the focus of attention yesterday as Tsai showed up for at a meeting of the defense committee for the first time this year. Tsai was cautious while commenting on the issue for fear of influencing Taiwan-China relations, said a lawmaker who preferred not to be identified.
"We must understand it was Taiwan which brought up the issue of China abandoning its missile deployment against us as a sign of goodwill," the lawmaker said.
"Our government did not seem to be prepared from the very beginning for the possibility that China might seriously consider the offer," he said.
"Now it is our turn to decide what to do next. NSB director Tsai certainly has to be careful in making comments on the issue," the lawmaker said.
Tsai seemed to suggest that the government does not want to accept China's response to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) request in September that China abandon missiles targeted at Taiwan.
China did not respond to the call until October when Chinese President Jiang Zemin (
Meanwhile in Washington, the US government reaffirmed Tuesday that there has been no change in its Taiwan policy.
The statement came after the Washington Post reported Tuesday that Beijing is seriously considering proposing a cut in the number of its deployed short-range missiles aimed at Taiwan in exchange for a US reduction in arms sales to Taipei.
US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said at a regular news briefing that he didn't see anything new in the Post article.
He explained that the US pursues a "one China" policy based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the three joint communiques between the US and China.
"The Taiwan Relations Act requires the United States to assist Taiwan in meeting its self-defense needs," Reeker said, adding that "there is absolutely no change in our policy."
"We've made clear our strong interest in a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue, and we hope that the People's Republic of China and Taiwan will resume direct dialogue. And we've said that many times in the past," Reeker said.
Asked whether Washington would adjust its policy on arms sales to Taiwan should China be willing to reduce the number of missiles, Reeker restated US policy.
"You know what the law is. ... And our long-standing position has been that the PRC and Taiwan should resolve their differences through dialogue," Reeker said.
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