President Chen and Vice President Lu Tour the Air Force General Headquarters
Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Thursday directed the Republic of China's Air Force to draw up a forward-looking blueprint for developing a new generation of warplanes to ensure supremacy in the sky over the Taiwan Strait.
President Chen gave the directive during an inspection tour of the Air Force General Headquarters (AFGH) in Taipei in his capacity as the ROC military's supreme leader.
Noting that air defense plays a crucial role in the ROC's overall defense system, Chen said he is pleased to see the commissioning of the country's second-generation warplanes to help safeguard national security.
Nevertheless, Chen said, mainland Chinese air force's combat capability is expected to be greatly beefed up after 2005 with the maturity of its airborne early-warning system, airborne fueling and electronic warfare technology and automatic command system as well as mass production of its new warplanes. "The advancement in mainland China's air combat capability will certainly affect military balance across the Taiwan Strait," the president noted.
In the face of this challenge, Chen said the ROC air force should draft a plan for development or acquisition of a new generation of warplanes for use in the 2010s and even in the 2020s.
Chen said the air force should also continue upgrading the new-generation warplanes' air-to-surface and air-to-sea assault and reconnaissance capabilities to maintain its air supremacy and ensure air defense security.
In his speech to AFGH staff, Chen further said mainland China's refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan is the greatest threat to the ROC's security.
Noting that the development of cross-strait relations will not only affect the well-being of the people on both sides but will also have a significant impact on peace and stability in the entire Asia-Pacific region, Chen said he has repeatedly held out olive branches to Beijing and called for resumption of dialogue and consultations to ease animosity and resolve disputes.
In view of the prevailing world trends, Chen said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can no longer afford to waste energy, wisdom and limited resources on mutual suspicion, squabbling and confrontation.
In preparation for negotiation with mainland China, Chen said, the ROC must simultaneously strengthen its military muscle to guarantee its national security. "Only when our national security faces no threat can we develop constructive interaction with the mainland," he explained.
Therefore, Chen encouraged all air force staff to develop a healthy internal operation, management, control and supervisory system to ensure efficiency and high-performance of all weaponry systems.
The air force must also cooperate with other military branches to perfect its combined service combat capability because amphibious and three-dimensional warfare have become the mainstay of modern war, Chen said.
He also encouraged the air force to devote more energy to research and development and overcome all obstacles and difficulties in training exercises in order to maintain air supremacy and upgrade overall defense capabilities.
Chen further said he regretted that the recent Pachang Creek rescue fiasco has tarnished the Air Force's Seagull Rescue Team's reputation and even the military's overall image.
Chen attributed the tragedy, which claimed four lives and led to the resignation of vice premier and several other senior officials, mainly to the outdated rigid emergency rescue system and "bureaucratic thinking and mentality" on the part of relevant personnel.
"The government has taken mend-fencing steps to improve our emergency rescue system and I hope similar tragedy will never recur," Chen said.
The President also stressed the importance of flight safety in his speech, urging all air force staff, including maintenance personnel, to make every effort to prevent any flight mishaps.