Taiwan to keep buying arms despite warmer China ties

[ErnstBlofeld]

Defense Talk:

Taiwan will keep buying arms abroad as it cannot rely just on improving ties with Beijing for security, President Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday, urging China to withdraw missiles pointed at the island. "Of course, for Taiwan's security we cannot place our hopes only on improved relations with China," Ma said in a National Day address in central Taipei. "Therefore, it is our necessary and unalterable policy to develop an independent defensive capability and to continue to buy from abroad defensive weapons that we cannot produce ourselves." Late last month, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted by Taipei-based media as suggesting that mainland missiles targeting Taiwan could one day be removed. Ma again welcomed this on Sunday.

"The mainland authorities recently made a statement on withdrawing the missiles. We think that's positive for ties between Taiwan and China, and we hope it will be realised at an early date," Ma said. Taiwanese experts estimate that the Chinese military has more than 1,600 missiles aimed at the island. The number has been growing steadily in recent years, in a stark reminder that China has never given up the option of using force to bring about reunification. The United States in January approved a 6.4-billion-dollar package including helicopters, anti-missile defences and mine-sweepers for Taiwan, which is still pressing for US F-16 fighter-jets.

China reacted furiously to the arms deal and is only now resuming suspended military exchanges with the United States. Ma was elected in 2008 on a promise to improve Taiwan's economy, mainly by stepping up exchanges with China. Under his leadership, ties between Taiwan and China have warmed rapidly and are now at their friendliest since 1949, when the two sides split at the end of a civil war. "We will continue to expand economic, cultural and social exchanges and build up mutual trust," Ma said. He spoke on the 99th anniversary of the Republic of China, which was founded on the mainland and ruled there until defeated by the communists. It remains the official name of Taiwan. "The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent nation," Ma said in his speech, addressing concerns among many of the island's 23 million people that closer ties with China could endanger the island's de facto independence.