Taipei, May 24 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian's office denied Monday press reports that Taiwan could send troops to Iraq, saying that the issue has never even been discussed between Taipei and Washington.
As a peace-loving people, Chen is devoted to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait and it is simply out of the question that he could dispatch marines to overseas battlefields.
The statement dismissed as groundless claims made by some local TV stations that Chen's administration has talked with Washington over the possibility of contributing troops to the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, believing it will elevate the county's ties with the United States to a level of semi-military alliance, which would be desirable for Taiwan.
The statement said this issue has never been broached between Washington and Taipei, either in public or in private. Neither has Washington asked, nor has Taipei offered to join the military operation in Iraq. Local media should stop causing disturbances by circulating baseless speculation on the issue, the statement said.