President Lee Teng-hui this morning, in receiving a group of American former military brass and experts, urged the United States to strengthen military cooperation and exchanges with the Republic of China.
The group headed by Gen. John W. Foss, a four-star general who once served as commander of the U.S. Army Headquarters' training and strategic command department, is on a visit to Taiwan.
Noting that Taiwan occupies a critical, strategic location in the Asia-Pacific area, the President told his guests that maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait is in the interests of the United States and Asia-Pacific countries.
Moreover, the ROC's democratic reforms serve as an example of the successful promotion of American values in this part of the world, says the President. "We are committed to maintaining our freedom, democracy and equitable distribution of wealth and to expanding this way of life to all of China," he added.
To end longstanding military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, President Lee said, the ROC government in 1991 terminated of the Period of National Mobilzation for the Suppression of Communist Rebellion and abolished the Temporary Provisions Effective during the Period of National Mobilization.
"We look forward to engaging mainland China in a peaceful, rational manner so as to gradually remove misunderstanding resulting from longtime separation," the President added.
However, Beijing has yet to respond positively to Taipei's good-will gestures and still refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Lee pointed out.
Against this background, the President said, the ROC must purchase advanced weaponry systems and military equipment for self-defense. The recent delivery of U.S.-made F-16 jet fighters, for instance, has helped upgrade the ROC's air defense capabilities, he told the guests.
"We appreciate the longtime assistance the Uinited States has extended to us," he emphasized. "We also earnestly hope to further reinforce bilateral military cooperation and exchanges with the U.S."
While talking about Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese rule, President Lee made it clear that the ROC is a sovereign state rather not a colony as Hong Kong used to be, adding that the "one country, two systems" formula imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong can never be applied to Taiwan.
Gen. Foss echoed President Lee's view, saying that Taiwan, with its highly strategic location, is an important ally of the United States.
On cross-strait relations, Gen. Foss noted the United States hopes the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will resolve their differences by peaceful means.
Gen. Foss further said that he is impressed by Taiwan's social vitality and its phenomenal progress in democratic reforms. He also suggested that the ROC intensify its international publicity campaign to let more people abroad understand that the ROC is different from mainland China. "Democracy is the best tool of publicity," he added.
Other members of the American group included Lt. Gen. Charles May, Lt. Gen. Kauderer, Lt. Gen. Martin Brandtner and Dr. Steve Bryen. They were accompanied by ROC Minister of National Defence Chiang Chung-ling and Legislator Parris H. Chang to the Office of the President for the meeting. Also present were Dr. Ding Mou-shih, secretary-general of the ROC National Security Council, and Mr. Stephen S. F. Chen, deputy secretary-general to the President.