In response to the start of the US-led war on Iraq, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday appealed to Asian countries, especially China, to help maintain regional security while urging the public in Taiwan to keep calm and place their trust in the government's ability.
"The government was informed by the US government immediately [after bombing started], and the Cabinet immediately called a meeting to activate its emergency measures for coping with any possible effects on Taiwan," Chen said while inspecting an air force base in Chiayi County yesterday.
Later Chen convened a high-level national security meeting at he Presidential Office to take briefings from the Cabinet's task force.
He urged everyone in the country to maintain a business-as-usual attitude and pushed Beijing to cooperate with Taiwan in maintaining regional stability.
Following contradictory comments earlier in the week from the government concerning the US-led action against Iraq, the president yesterday focused on humanitarian aid and post-war reconstruction.
Chen said that Taiwan was willing and able to help with the medical needs of Iraq's people and in dealing with refugees.
"War is always the last resort," he said. "Therefore, Taiwan expects the US-led military action to topple the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq quickly and with minimum loss of life and injury to innocent people."
Regarding the wider war against terrorism, Chen said that the country would cooperate with others in creating a mechanism to restrict the proliferation of wea-pons of mass destruction.
"The possession and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ... is a threat to regional peace and international stability," he said. "More importantly, it would be a disaster should these weapons fall into the hands of terrorists."
Chen then urged other Pacific Rim and Asian countries, including the US, to collectively safeguard the security of the Asia-Pacific region, stressing that Taiwan would do its utmost to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait.
"In the meantime," he said, "I hope Beijing's leaders can make a concerted effort with Taiwan in maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region."
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