ARMS ACQUISITION: The US needs proof that Taiwan's navy is capable of operating the advanced warships and this, not China, is the main factor preventing the sale from going through, opines one defense analyst
By Brian Hsu
With or without pressure from China, the US government will not agree to sell AEGIS-equipped guided missile destroyers to Taiwan before the Taiwan navy proves itself to be competent to handle the advanced warships, a defense source told the Taipei Times yesterday.

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By Dan Nystedt
People ringing family and friends overseas will soon find their phone bills dropping fast thanks to Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) and its competitors.

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MILITARY BALANCE: Analysts say the question of US arms sales to Taiwan and missile defense plans are expected to be points of confrontation in meetings between China's vice premier and US leaders today
Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen said Tuesday in advance of talks with US President George W. Bush that Sino-American relations would suffer a "very serious" setback if Taiwan receives administration permission to buy four US destroyers with highly sophisticated radar equipment.

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By Jou Ying-cheng
Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) yesterday rejected a Control Yuan censure over the ministry's performance in the war on black gold crimes as "very unfair."

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