Rumors surround `troops to Iraq' plan

A resolution presented to the US House of Representatives that would require the US president to ask Taiwan to send marines to Iraq caused further disputes yesterday, as it was rumored a major Taiwanese lobby group was behind the move.

Two pro-Taiwan US House members -- Dana Rohrabacher, co-chairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and Jim Ryun, also a member of the Taiwan Caucus -- introduced a resolution last Thursday calling for US President George W. Bush to ask Taiwan to deploy troops to Iraq.

The resolution said that Taiwan was studying the feasibility of sending up to 5,000 marines to Iraq to fight alongside US-led forces.

Local media reported that the two representatives prepared the resolution based on information provided by the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a pro-independence lobbying group made up of Taiwanese-Americans.

FAPA denied the report yesterday, saying it did not take the initiative to provide information to the two representatives, although it acknowledged that Rohrabacher consulted the group before introducing the resolution.

The group also said it supported the deployment of Taiwanese troops in Iraq as a way to improve Taiwan-US relations.

FAPA President Wu Ming-chi (吳明基) called the idea behind the resolution a "very creative" one.

"Implementation of the resolution would help reduce the burden on the US armed forces in Iraq. Implementation would not only be the most tangible demonstration of Taiwan's pledge to join the global war on terrorism, it would also de-monstrate that Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community and ready, willing and able to take up the responsibilities that come with that status," Wu said.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and FAPA founding president Trong Tsai (蔡同榮) -- who joined Wu in the press conference at the Legislative Yuan -- also expressed his support.

"Although Taiwan may become a terrorist target with the implementation of the resolution, it would be unfriendly of us to the US if we turn down the request when it comes up," Tsai said.

A few other DPP legislators also favored the idea, saying that if Taiwan could send troops to Iraq, it would form a military quasi-alliance between the two countries.

But DPP Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) said the Iraq war was unjustified and the Taiwanese public would not support sending troops there.

Opposition caucuses also criticized the move.

"We oppose a war that is unjustified. The government should not try to meddle in this mess," Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said. The TSU traditionally supports the DPP.

"We do support the government in helping Iraqis with reconstruction and rebuilding their homes so that the international community would know that Taiwan loves peace," Chen said.

KMT caucus whip Liao Feng-teh (廖風德) said: "President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) already declared in 2000 that he would not let Taiwanese people get involved in a war. If he wants to avoid warfare between China and Taiwan, then it would not be justified to send troops overseas."

The PFP caucus said that the US-Iraq war was unjustified and Taiwan should not send troops.