Feb. 18, 2000 --- Jesse Helms, Richard Lugar, Charles Hagel, Gordon Smith, Rod Grams, Sam Brownback, Craig Thomas, John Ashcroft, William Frist, Joseph Biden, Paul Sarbanes, Christopher Dodd, John Kerry, Russell Feingold, Paul Wellstone, Barbara Boxer, Robert Torricelli, Edwin J. Feulner, John McCain, George W. Bush
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Feb.16, 2000 ---
A former U.S. congressman who has been influential in Asian affairs predicted the United States will assist Taiwan if China were to launch any military drills before the presidential election, as it did in 1996 when it dispatched two aircraft carrier groups to the Taiwan Strait.

If the Chinese “were to engage in similar maneuvers --- of course this is highly speculative, and I would be very surprised if they did that --- it would be entirely counterproductive and a very serious mistake on their part,” said Stephen Solarz, who while serving as a congressman chaired the House foreign affairs subcommittee on Asia. Solarz is in Taiwan as vice president of the Internal Crisis Group.

“I think the response of the United States through previous efforts when Beijing tried to intimidate Taiwan clearly suggested that there will be a similar response this time,” said Solarz, referring to the U.S.’s response when China sent missiles to Taiwanese waters before the island’s first direct presidential election in 1996. The U.S. Navy sent the aircraft carrier battle groups to the Taiwan Strait at the time as a warning to China.

“The United States is not going to stand idly by if Beijing intends through some military means and maneuvers to threaten and intimidate the people of Taiwan,” Solarz said. “Particularly when it is going to approach this very important moment of the history in the country when only for the second time the Taiwanese people can directly elect their own leader.”

Solarz made the remark at a news conference hosted by the International Crisis Group yesterday afternoon. The group, established five years ago, was holding its board meeting in Taipei at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ICG’s new president, Gareth Evans, former foreign minister of Australia, said Taiwan is one of the 13 countries that financially support the group and promised a contribution of US$1 million over the next three years.

Although it was their first meeting in Taiwan and the timing was just 32 days before the election, the group claimed they did not discuss cross-strait relations and their choice of location for the meeting is to extend their gratitude to Taiwan’s support for the organization.　

Feb. 16, 2000 ---
China said yesterday it was exercising its right to expand its military strength after reports that its first Russian-built guided missile destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait last week. Asked if the move was designed to intimidate Taiwan ahead of presidential elections on the island in March, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said:

“China as a sovereign nation has the right to take steps to increase its defense capability. China and Russia have some cooperation in the military field aimed at strengthen defense to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Zhu said such cooperation “benefits the peaceful and stable development of the region.”

During Taiwan’s first democratic vote for president in 1996 China conducted missile tests off the island, prompting Washington to send two aircraft carrier battle groups to the Taiwan Strait. The chief of Taiwan’s General Staff, Tang Yaoming, said on Monday the ship passed through the strait on Friday. But he said the vessel’s high-tech weapons would not give Beijing any military edge.

The New York Times reported last week that Beijing has ordered two Sovremenny-class destroyers equipped with ship-to-ship missiles capable of evading missile defenses on U.S. carrier fleets. It said China was negotiating for two more.

Feb. 16, 2000 ---
China will question the United States about weapons sales to Taiwan and plans to develop anti-missile shields when senior diplomats meet in Beijing to review security concerns, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott’s three-day to Beijing, which starts today, comes as the countries appear headed for a confrontation over Taiwan.

Talbott will be coming from Tokyo, where a U.S. Embassy spokesman stressed that Washington’s alliance with Tokyo was “fundamentally different” from its engagement with China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao, at a twice weekly media briefing, said U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and ballistic missile defenses are among the items to be discussed with Talbott.

Although Zhu did not elaborate, he and other Chinese officials in recent weeks have warned Washington that relations will suffer if Congress approves legislation to strengthen military contacts with Taiwan. China believes the bill in question, the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, could provide a pretext for stepping up arms sales.

In particular, China is worried about proposed sales of Aegis destroyers to Taiwan and possible including of the island in a regional anti-missile defense shield. Those weapons systems would undercut Beijing’s growing arsenal of missiles and its latest acquisition, a Sovremenny-class destroyer bought from Russia.

China, along with Russia, as also opposed a U.S. plan to amend a 28-year-old arms control treaty so that Washington can develop a national anti-missiles shield. Washington maintains its system would only be enough to stop a limited missile strike by a rogue nation.

In our opinion, Taiwan and mainland China have the same right to take measure to enhance its own defense capabilities. But, what issues is the “Beijing’s fear”?

However, Taiwan needs your support.