More weapons for protecting the human rights

 

More weapons for protecting the human rights

In Taiwan, Kuomintang presidential candidate Lien Chan offered details of his national security platform yesterday (Dec. 8, 1999), calling for long-range missile development. U.S. and Japanese involvement in Cross-Strait dialogue, and confidence-building measures between Taipei and Beijing speaking at a seminar sponsored by the ROC armed forces university, Lien said Taiwan must build an intimidating military force that can deter aggression from the nation's enemies and "insure that communist China will never dare invade."

Toward this end, Lien said the military needed a stronger "second strike" capability, including long-range strategic missiles that could respond to mainland Chinese launch.

Beijing has acquired dozens of Russian-made Su-27 jet fighters, and is seeking to buy more advanced Su-30s. Mainland Chinese leaders have renewed their option of using force to reunify with the island after President Lee Teng-hui redefined the Cross-Strait ties as "special state-to-state relationship" in July.

Beijing regards the statehood claim as a deviation from its "one China" policy.

The Russian military's "get-out or die" ultimatum to the people of the Chechen capital of Grozny galvanized western government (Dec. 7, 1999) to begin considering limited Curbs on aid to Moscow after months of inaction.

The 15-nation European Union said in Brussels that it was considering freezing research and technical assistance accords due to be signed with Russia --- a mostly symbolic gesture.

But it added to pressure on Moscow after international Monetary Fund affirmed that it would continue to with hold a second US$640 million slice of a US$4.5 billion loan agreed with Russia in July.

A failure to get more IMF funding now, some analysts suggest, could soon make a real difference to Moscow's ability to finance the war. Government in Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued strong statements of disapproval of Russian policy Tuesday (Dec. 8, 1999), as did NATO secretary-general George Robertson after a meeting with Clinton in Washington. The only major nation that has supported the Russians is --- China.

The reason for China to support Russia is --- "western governments had interfered its internal affairs."

 

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