■Defense
US nixed arms purchase
Washington pressured Taiwan into aborting a US$3.5-billion plan to buy 100 Russian fighter jets in the early 1990s, it was reported yesterday. A Chinese-language newspaper said the US, Taiwan's leading arms supplier, scotched the deal for Russian-made Su-27 jets after a Taiwanese delegation visited Moscow in December 1991. Then Russian president Boris Yeltsin gave the green light for the landmark talks, the paper said, quoting a report filed by Taiwan's former top science development affairs official. Meng Hsien-yu, an official stationed in Taiwan's mission in Germany and who had quietly visited Moscow nine times for the purpose, said the purchase was killed "after the United States learned of the plan and exercised pressure on Taiwan." George Bush, then US president, announced in September 1992 the sale of 150 F-16 fighters to Taiwan for US$5.8 billion. In the same year, Taipei and France also struck a deal for the acquisition of 60 French-made Mirage 2000-5s at a price of US$3.8 billion.
■ Smuggling
Chinese migrants detained
Coast Guard Administration officers detained 29 Chinese nationals early yesterday attempting to enter Taiwan illegally aboard a domestic fishing vessel off Santiago Cape in northeastern Taiwan. Acting on a tip, coast guard officers discovered the 29 people from Fujian Province -- nine men and 20 women, including five teenage girls -- hiding on board the Yu Lien No. 2, which picked them up in the Taiwan Strait. The five teens claimed that they had been cheated by human smugglers who intended to sell them into the sex trade in Taiwan, while the others said that they wished to seek jobs. The officers said each of the migrants was found to have a playing card, which the officers speculated was to be used as a marker for contacting their would-be bosses after landing. They said this indicates that the cross-strait smuggling operations are becoming more organized.
■ Diplomacy
EU to establish Taipei office
The EU will establish a representative office in Taipei next February to increase bilateral exchanges in the education, technology and economic sectors, a government official said yesterday. The official, who asked not to be identified, said that Emma Udwin, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, told a group of Taiwanese visitors recently in Brussels that although the EU maintains a "one China" policy, it views Taiwan as important. Udwin also noted that the EU opposes the use of any military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and hopes that the two sides resume constructive talks as soon as possible, according to the official. She suggested that Taiwan and China follow the model set by the 15 member nations of the EU of economic integration followed by political integration.
■ Diplomacy
Nicaraguan official to visit
Nicaraguan Vice President Jose Rizo Castellon will arrive in Taipei tomorrow for a five-day visit at the invitation of the Taiwan government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials revealed yesterday. During his stay, Rizo will meet with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新), the officials said. Chen will confer a medal on the visiting Nicaraguan dignitary in recognition of his contributions toward the promotion of Taiwan-Nicaragua relations.
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