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Saturday 21 March 2009
Taiwan softens its defence policy in new sign of warming ties
Taiwan would drop the terms “active defence” and “pre-emptive strike” from its defence policy, the island’s military said yesterday in yet another sign of fast-improving cross-strait relations.
Taiwan softens its defence policy in new sign of warming ties
Lawrence Chung in Taipei 17 March 2009
Taiwan would drop the terms “active defence” and “pre-emptive strike” from its defence policy, the island’s military said yesterday in yet another sign of fast-improving cross-strait relations.
“Pre-emptive strike” and “active defence” - meaning Taiwan would attack key mainland military bases first if armed conflict between the two became inevitable, were the linchpin of Taiwan’s defence philosophy under pro-independence former president Chen Shui-bian, who stepped down in May.
The strategy was hugely controversial and viewed by Beijing as provocative.
In a report released by the Taiwanese military yesterday, the defence ministry stressed Taiwan would not make the first strike or fire the first shot should there be a cross-strait conflict.
“The purpose of building the armed forces here is to safeguard the security of the nation. We prepare ourselves to brace for war, but never seek a war. We will never take the initiative in starting a conflict or attack,” the report states.
The report vows not to develop nuclear arms or weapons of mass destruction. “Nor will we become a threat to any country,” it says, adding that it is seeking to build a military mutual trust mechanism with the mainland as part of its “preventive defence” policy to avoid military conflict in the region.
Vice Admiral Li Hsi-ming said yesterday at a news conference to announce the report’s release that the Taiwanese military had worked out some studies on how to improve mutual trust. But before there was a political consensus on the issue within Taiwan, it would be difficult to push through such a mechanism.
The pro-independence camp on the island has been sceptical of such a proposal.
The ministry’s report states that Taiwan still needs to form a “solid-as-bedrock, impregnable defensive force that could not be dislodged, shattered or breached by a numerically superior enemy force” in the event of an attack on the island. This would involve the strengthening of its purchase lists for next-generation sophisticated arms, including new warplanes and anti-missile systems.
Taiwanese defence officials say the mainland is still deploying 1,300 missiles targeting the island.
Instead of continuing the conscription system, the Taiwanese military will develop an all-volunteer force.
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Taiwan softens its defence policy in new sign of warming ties
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
17 March 2009
Taiwan would drop the terms “active defence” and “pre-emptive strike” from its defence policy, the island’s military said yesterday in yet another sign of fast-improving cross-strait relations.
“Pre-emptive strike” and “active defence” - meaning Taiwan would attack key mainland military bases first if armed conflict between the two became inevitable, were the linchpin of Taiwan’s defence philosophy under pro-independence former president Chen Shui-bian, who stepped down in May.
The strategy was hugely controversial and viewed by Beijing as provocative.
In a report released by the Taiwanese military yesterday, the defence ministry stressed Taiwan would not make the first strike or fire the first shot should there be a cross-strait conflict.
“The purpose of building the armed forces here is to safeguard the security of the nation. We prepare ourselves to brace for war, but never seek a war. We will never take the initiative in starting a conflict or attack,” the report states.
The report vows not to develop nuclear arms or weapons of mass destruction. “Nor will we become a threat to any country,” it says, adding that it is seeking to build a military mutual trust mechanism with the mainland as part of its “preventive defence” policy to avoid military conflict in the region.
Vice Admiral Li Hsi-ming said yesterday at a news conference to announce the report’s release that the Taiwanese military had worked out some studies on how to improve mutual trust. But before there was a political consensus on the issue within Taiwan, it would be difficult to push through such a mechanism.
The pro-independence camp on the island has been sceptical of such a proposal.
The ministry’s report states that Taiwan still needs to form a “solid-as-bedrock, impregnable defensive force that could not be dislodged, shattered or breached by a numerically superior enemy force” in the event of an attack on the island. This would involve the strengthening of its purchase lists for next-generation sophisticated arms, including new warplanes and anti-missile systems.
Taiwanese defence officials say the mainland is still deploying 1,300 missiles targeting the island.
Instead of continuing the conscription system, the Taiwanese military will develop an all-volunteer force.
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