This morning, we have received notification from the government of the United States, confirming that the U.S., the United Kingdom, and allied nations have initiated military action in Iraq against the government of Saddam Hussein following a 48-hour ultimatum issued by U.S. President George W. Bush.
I have been fully briefed by all concerned agencies regarding the latest related developments. I have twice been in contact with Premier Yu. He has been informed and all relevant governmental bodies have been directed to undertake the orderly implementation of appropriate response measures and countermeasures, in accordance with resolutions previously set forth in high-level meetings as well as Advance Response Plans outlined by each respective agency. Furthermore, the government’s Comprehensive Contingency Plan—formulated in response to the U.S. military action in Afghanistan—has been revised to meet the present situation in Iraq in order to minimize any potential impact on the local economy and our own national security. It is expected that these contingency mechanisms, once implemented, will be effective in countering the impact on Taiwan. My fellow citizens, we must remain confident and united, standing together to safeguard the stability and progress of Taiwan’s economy and our society.
There is no question that illicit possession of weapons of mass destruction, including the possession of biological and chemical weapons or the encouragement of proliferation of such weapons and technologies, pose a serious threat to regional peace as well as international stability. We dare not imagine the consequences should such weapons fall into the hands of terrorists. As a concerned member of the international community, Taiwan does not want to see political and economic stability, in this region or internationally, jeopardized by the development and proliferation of such weapons. We support a concerted effort to control the proliferation of these weapons and technologies. We agree that war must be the last resort. We hope that innocent civilians will not be harmed and that conflict will end in the shortest time possible. Taiwan is committed to the ongoing global campaign against terrorism and will do its part to contribute humanitarian and medical aid.
As we are confronted by changes in both the regional and the international arena, and in view of situations developing in North Korea, Taiwan will continue its efforts to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, calling on the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other Asian Pacific nations, to work together to ensure stability and continued development in the region. I would also again urge the People’s Republic of China to play its part in the effort to maintain peace and to avoid any actions that might jeopardize stability in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is a peace-loving country. That all peoples and nations throughout the world can enjoy permanent peace—this is our fervent hope.
My fellow citizens, please rest assured that your government has taken all possible measures to effectively cope with the situation at hand. We will continue with our daily lives. Indeed, we will be cautious and we will be attentive. But we need not be afraid, for we are prepared. Thank you. (END)