Rebuttal to weapons article
The recent article by Lynn Miles ("More weapons are not the answer," April 30, page 8) is by and large characterized by tongue-in-cheek statements. In order to clear my own head, I like to refute some of his claims.
1. The US is peddling a contradiction -- Making accusations such as this cannot change the fact that the double-talk tactics perfected by China are the epitome of contradiction parlance.
2. "... everything the Chinese militaries do and say is backed up by appeals to the common good" -- The question is, whose common good?
3. Over 100 million lives will be paid by century's end for advancing democracy, stability and peace -- By this prophecy, Taiwan's population will be wiped out long before the century's end.
4. "... the power of huge corporate interests prepared to reap huge profits in the arms business -- Yet the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden all have announced that they will not sell submarines to Taiwan.
5. Bush's election is the result of "a coup d'etat by a corrupted Supreme Court" -- Typical crackpot nonsense perpetuated by those who have a "my way or no way" mentality.
It appears to me that Miles poses either as a false prophet or a propagandist affined to China, with neither persona promoting the truth that a democratic society longs for.
Ching H. Li
Jersey City, New Jersey
Kidds no toys
Hwang Chi-chuan (
As Vice President Annette Lu (
Naval force requirements for a maritime power extend beyond the construction of missile patrol boats to include anti-submarine and anti-aircraft capabilities. A boat of under 1,000 tonnes will have difficulty equipping itself for these missions.
In this regard, the Kidd-class offers a proficient platform. It would need to be updated but it points the way to the type of vessels needed. Taiwan's purchase of submarines should be viewed as a very positive development.
Their eventual construction by Taiwan should be encouraged, perhaps with US technical assistance for sonar, acoustics, and fire-control. Acquiring Air Independent Propulsion from a third country will help Taiwan in building good submarines.
James Hughes
New Mexico
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