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."