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Taiwan Pro-Independence Activists To Rally For $10B Arms Package
Taipei (AFP) Sep 23, 2005 Taiwan's pro-independence activists will rally on Sunday to support a proposed 10-billion-US dollar arms purchase from the United States aimed at strengthening defenses against rival China, organizers said Thursday. "We urge all Taiwanese citizens to join the rally to show their determination in defending our country, as China is targeting Taiwan with 800 missiles," said Peter Wang, head of The 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign organizing the event. Wang said he expects some 50,000 people to rally outside the Presidential Office in Taipei. A senior Pentagon official this week bluntly warned Taiwan it must invest in its own defenses against a growing threat from China if it expects the United States to come to its aid in a crisis. Edward Ross, a top official with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, lambasted Taiwan's opposition leaders for turning the special defense budget into a "political football." Lawmakers from two main opposition parties last week blocked the controversial package even though the total cost has been scaled back from the original 19 billion dollars. The opposition insists the arms bill is illegal after Taiwanese voted against expanded arms purchase in the island's first referendum held simultaneously with presidential polls in March 2004. The latest version of the arms bill calls for the purchase of eight conventional submarines and 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft from the United States over a 15-year period for around 340 billion Taiwan dollars (10 billion US). The six PAC-3 Patriot anti-missile systems included in the original bill would be financed by the government's yearly budgets. China has deployed up to 730 ballistic missiles opposite the island which it sees as part of its territory. It threatens to invade if Taiwan declares formal independence. Some opposition lawmakers said Taiwan could not afford the arms deal while others said the equipment would be delivered too slowly to enable the island to catch up with China's military build-up. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express China News from SinoDaily.com
Taiwan Has Produced Three Prototypes Of Cruise Missile: Jane's
Taipei (AFP) Jan 08, 2006Taiwan has produced three prototypes of a new cruise missile which could be used to strike the east coast of rival China, an authoritative defence magazine said. |
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