Chief of the General Staff General Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) yesterday warned that China is trying to undermine Taiwan's government politically and economically, while urging the nation to keep its defensive forces in peak condition.
"The Chinese tactic of using Taiwan businessmen and civilians to influence the Taiwan government is aimed at suppressing our economic development and competitive power," Tang said.
"It just part of the proof that shows China has never changed its intention to destroy Taiwan," he added.
Tang made the warning yesterday on national Armed Forces Day, as he delivered a speech at a ceremony honoring a group of servicemen selected annually as model members of the armed forces.
Commenting on economic and political matters is unusual for Tang, who normally restricts his speeches to the military arena.
Tang's warning was interpreted by local media as a message to the government leadership that the easing of restrictions upon business investment in China -- one of the conclusions reached at the recently concluded Economic Development Advisory Conference -- would be counterproductive to interests of national security.
Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General Huang Shui-sheng (黃穗生) said the media had misconstrued General Tang's intentions in delivering his speech.
"General Tang is just trying to let the public know what kind of tactics China now uses against Taiwan. He did it for the sake of national security," Huang told the Taipei Times.
"The military will not rail against government policy. If the government decides to open direct sea and air links with China, the military will cooperate fully," Huang said.
Andrew Yang (楊念祖), a military analyst at National Sun Yat-sen University, said General Tang's warnings against China represent a continuation of his efforts to make servicemen understand that China is an enemy to Taiwan.
"General Tang has been making similar efforts over the past few months. He wants servicemen to know what they are fighting for and who their enemy is," Yang said.
The general also reminded his audience of the nature of the military threat that Taiwan is facing from China.
"It is estimated that by 2005, China will pose a substantial threat to Taiwan in areas ranging from air and sea forces to intercontinental ballistic missiles. It will also be a big threat to the security of the Asian-Pacific region," Tang said. "Currently, China is holding a series of military exercises off Fujian Province. These exercises are meant to intimidate the Taiwan people."
"Since 1989, China has been increasing its defense spending by double digits each year to promote its military modernization project," he said.
The general also called on the public not to relax vigilance against potential invasion from China.
"We should not hold the illusion that war won't break out across the Taiwan Strait before 2008 just because China is to hold the Olympic Games that year," he said.
"We should instead strengthen our military training and upgrade our combat readiness. We must strive to maintain our defensive capabilities," he added.
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