Saying freedom doesn't come for free, President Chen Shui-bian (
"There is a cost for freedom that many of us take for granted," Chen said. "History has told us that without sufficient defensive capability, any peace agreement can easily be torn up by an invader and becomes a useless piece of paper."
Chen was referring to the "peace agreement" proposed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen said that it was hard to understand why opposition parties opted to cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and boycott the arms deal.
"Partisan interest is short-lived but national interests are permanent," Chen said. "We have no objection to the KMT-CCP cooperation because it is their choice, but they must not jeopardize national interest and security as well as peace and stability in the region."
Chen made the remarks at the Presidential Office yesterday morning when addressing a video conference with Japanese parliamentarians, academics and reporters. The event was organized by Japan's Waseda University.
Despite the various excuses made by the opposition parties, Chen said that the crux of the problem lies in the pan-blue camp's ultimate goal of unifying with China and their cooperation with the CCP.
"They think we would not need any weapons if we eventually unify with China and if the two parties cooperate," Chen said.
Over the past half century, Chen said that no other country has wanted peace more than Taiwan, which is under the shadow of China's military intimidation.
The biggest hurdle to cross-strait peace lies in China's insistence on its one-party dictatorial rule, he said.
Chen vowed to strengthen the nation's defensive capabilities and to do his best to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
"But we would also like to see the international community face up to the essence of the cross-strait issue and work concertedly for a more democratic and peaceful world," he said.
Chen said that he had learned a lesson from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to China.
"That is, sincerity, goodwill and mutual respect can help resolve mutual differences," he said. "As Japan and China can put aside their minor differences to seek common ground, I believe both sides of the Taiwan Strait can do so and return to the negotiation table, without setting any preconditions."
In addition to China's increasing military budget, Chen said that his administration is also concerned about China's "Anti-Secession" Law which sanctions the use of military action to invade Taiwan.
Chen pointed out that China is augmenting its combat readiness in a three-stage preparation for war. Its goal is to establish contingency-response combat capabilities by next year, build up its combat capabilities for large-scale military engagement by 2010 and ensure victory in a decisive battle by 2015.
Meanwhile, Chen's accusations sparked anger among KMT lawmakers attending the Legislature's National Defense Committee review of the next fiscal year's national defense budget request.
"The committee should censure Chen and boycott reviewing the national defense budget," the KMT's Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) said after learning of Chen's comments.
Vice Minister of National Defense Ko Cheng-heng (柯承亨) denied such information had been provided by the ministry to the president.
Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Su Chi (
Chen made his comments to set a trap for the KMT so he could tell the public that it was the KMT's fault once the party decides to boycott the bill due to his accusations.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as
RSS