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Taipei mum on reports of Matsu missile deployment

The Ministry of National Defense refused to comment yesterday on reports that it had suspended a plan to station missiles in Matsu as a result of pressure from the US.

The ministry's response came after the United Evening News reported on Monday that the military had been planning to deploy missiles on the island, which lies just off China's Fujian coast.

"We will not comment on the story. We will not confirm or deny anything at this moment," ministry spokesman Major General Yu Sy-tue (虞思祖) said.

The deployment, reportedly the brainchild of former defense minister Lee Jye (李傑), was suspended because of US government opposition, the report said.

Although Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu (李天羽) has kept a low profile on the matter, he is reported to have visited Matsu last week, ostensibly to "encourage the troops and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with them."

The report said the military had allocated a budget and sent missile experts to Matsu earlier this year to prepare for the deployment of surface-to-surface missiles, the paper said.

However, the defense ministry recently suspended the plan but would continue mass production of the missiles, the newspaper said.

Taiwan is seeking to boost its defenses against China, but Taipei's military build-up is being closely scrutinized by the US.

Taiwan-China ties have worsened in recent months as the former has applied to join the UN using the name "Taiwan" instead of "Republic of China (ROC)" and intends to hold a referendum on joining the UN in March.

On Monday, China admitted that in late April and early May its warships had sailed past Taiwan's east coast -- through the channel between Okinawa and the smaller Japanese islet of Miyako -- on their way to a military exercise at sea.

The naval maneuver was first reported by Japan's Asahi Shimbun on April 28, but China had kept silent on the issue until Monday.

The Asahi said two missile destroyers and two frigates from China's North Sea Fleet had left Shanghai on April 28 for the exercise and returned home on May 11.
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