ROC will maintain defenses until PRC rejects force: Chen
Published: July 12, 2001
Source: Central News Agency
President Chen Shui-bian Thursday said that until mainland China
renounces using force against Taiwan, the ROC military should continue
to beef up its defensive readiness to safeguard the security of the
country and the people.
The
president said that Taiwan should bolster its combat preparedness
in a creative way on the premise that "military forces are to
be used for the maintenance of peace and order."
Addressing a joint commencement of Taiwan's military academies, Chen
said that since taking office, he has constantly shown goodwill toward
Beijing in an effort to end the cross-strait political impasse and
facilitate friendly interactions between the two sides.
Nevertheless, Chen added, Beijing has ignored his goodwill while
continuing to isolate and contain Taiwan in the international community
through underhand methods
Chen Thursday presided over a ceremony at Fu Hsing Kang College to
mark the joint commencement of five military academies of the three
branches of the ROC military.
He
told the military academy graduates that since 1989, Beijing has continued
to increase its military build-up with its defense budget growing
at a double-digit rate annually over the past 12 years - at an average
growth rate that was higher than that of its booming economy.
In recent years, the Chinese communists have aggressively implemented
various projects to accelerate the "military modernization"
plan, Chen said, adding that by 2005, the People's Liberation Army
is predicted to be able to secure superiority over Taiwan's military
in sea and air combat capabilities as well as in all other military
sectors, including satellite technology and applications, weaponry
domination and control and intelligence systems.
The president said Taiwan has never tried to enter an arms race with
mainland China and the ROC military has long upheld its ultimate goal
of "safeguarding the country by maintaining effective deterrence
against the communists."
Chen
asked the new military graduates to always keep national security
in mind and to fully support the government. Chen asked them to help
realize the government's policy of nationalizing the military while
help improve the armed forces' public image.
He also wanted the graduates never to abandon learning throughout
their life, even though they are leaving school to go on active military
service.
In addition to officiating at the commencement, Chen also gave out
diplomas to the graduates and officially commissioned them in the
ROC armed forces.
The graduates were from the Chinese Military Academy, the Chinese
Naval Academy, the Chinese Air Force Academy, Fu Hsing Kang College
and National Defense Management University.