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China still a threat,
former official says
HIGH-TECH HIT: Former deputy defense minister
Lin Chong-pin said Beijing¡¦s top aim is to paralyze Taiwan and it is developing
electromagnetic pulse weapons to achieve it
Staff Writer, with CNA
Despite showing goodwill and friendliness in its economic and cultural exchanges
with Taiwan, China has never ceased its military exercises simulating attacks on
the nation, former deputy defense minister Lin Chong-pin (ªL¤¤Ùy) said yesterday.
Lin made the remarks after the US Department of Defense released its annual
report on military and security developments in China, saying that Beijing has
not slowed its efforts to expand its military options to deny any outside
intervention in the Taiwan Strait, despite improvements in cross-strait ties in
recent years.
While briefing reporters on the Pentagon report to be delivered to the US
Congress, Michael Schiffer, US deputy assistant secretary of defense for East
Asia, said that over the past year, China has continued to beef up its naval and
aerial combat arsenal, including extending the range of its jet fighters and
updating its submarines and surface warships, as well as conducting sea trials
of its first aircraft carrier.
¡§None of the developments mentioned in the Pentagon report are new,¡¨ Lin said,
adding that Beijing has consistently adopted a two-pronged strategy on Taiwan.
In terms of its ¡§hard¡¨ approach, Lin said, China has accelerated its military
modernization. In addition to deploying short-range ballistic missiles targeting
Taiwan, the People¡¦s Liberation Army has continued to hold drills simulating
attacks on Taiwan and its outlying islands.
¡§Since 2004, the [Chinese] military has refrained from conducting military
exercises in its southeastern coastal areas opposite Taiwan, instead staging
drills in the Chinese hinterland ... while they do not hype their live-fire
drills, neither have they ever suspended them,¡¨ said Lin, who is a professor at
Tamkang University¡¦s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic
Studies.
Lin said that Beijing has spared no effort in developing electromagnetic pulse (EMP)
weapons, which do not cause human casualties, but disable electronic
communications and command systems.
¡§Beijing¡¦s top goal is to paralyze Taiwan rather than destroy it,¡¨ Lin said,
adding that the ultimate goal of China¡¦s development of military hardware and
its training drills is to prevent the US from coming to Taiwan¡¦s aid.
Lin said it has also become increasingly evident that Beijing is attempting to
dominate and control East Asia without resorting to war, by pursuing a
¡§supra-military¡¨ strategy to unify Taiwan through economic, cultural, diplomatic
and political means.
He said resorting to force is the worst and least likely option available to
Beijing at the moment.
¡§At present, Beijing¡¦s strategy is to embrace Taiwan like an attractive bride
... Given Taiwan¡¦s economic strength, use of force by China against Taiwan would
be like killing the goose that lays golden eggs,¡¨ Lin said.
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