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Military readiness still vital: minister

“Defense buildup is still necessary, because it is the basic [action we must take] to brace for possible wars.”

Chen Chao-min, Minister of National Defense

Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min (陳肇敏) said yesterday that goodwill gestures by China do not mean lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait and that Taiwan’s defense buildup would have to continue as scheduled.

“Defense buildup is still necessary, because it is the basic [action we must take] to brace for possible wars,” Chen said.

Chen made the remarks at a legislative committee meeting after Democratic Progressive Party legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) expressed concern that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung’s (吳伯雄) recent comments after returning from a visit to China could undermine the morale of Taiwan’s military.

Wu, who after returning from his historic meeting with Chinese Communist Party Secretary-General and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) on May 28, told President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Saturday he “felt” that China greatly appreciated Taiwan’s outpouring of sympathy and donations for victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

He also said that China was unlikely to launch missiles at Taiwan.

Tsai asked Chen to condemn Wu for his comments, saying such remarks could lead Taiwan’s military and civilians to lower their guard.

But Chen argued that Taiwan is a pluralistic society and refused to comment on Wu’s remarks, saying only that the military would remain strictly neutral.

Chen said that if Beijing agreed not to launch missiles, the military would see that as a goodwill gesture and would welcome it, but would not take it to mean lasting peace.

Asked by KMT Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) how Taiwan would respond if Beijing withdrew its more than 1,000 missiles deployed on its coastal provinces aimed at Taiwan, Chen said “the ministry would make adjustments on military procurement and research and development based on the actual situation.”

China has been stepping up the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan over the years and has threatened to use military force if Taiwan seeks to declare formal independence.
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