Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that Taiwan, Japan and South Korea all should make a positive response to the U.S.-initiated theater missile defense (TMD) system development plan.
Chen made the remarks during a meeting with Richard Bush, director of the Northeast Asian Policy Studies of the Brookings Institution, in response to North Korea's test-firing of an anti-ship missile into the Sea of Japan Monday on the eve of the inauguration of South Korea's new president, Roh Moo Hyun. "Feb. 25 is a special day for South Korea as it is swearing in its new president. It was unusual and very provocative for North Korea to test-fire a missile into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan before such a special occasion," Chen said.
Pyongyang's move as well as mainland China's deployment of 400 guided missiles along its southeastern coast opposite Taiwan all signify the urgency for Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to build up missile defense systems, Chen said.
In his view, Chen went on, these developments should also prompt Taiwan, South Korea and Japan to actively respond to the U.S. call for developing a TMD missile defense system.
Chen said Taiwan has shared its views with the United States in advocating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. "We support the U.S. stance that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free," Chen told his guest.
He further said the Korean Peninsula issue should be resolved through peaceful dialogue. "We believe that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is crucial to Asia's security and prosperity, " he added.
Touching on Taiwan's own security, Chen said Taiwan has continued striving to beef up its self-defense capabilities. "We must build up an elite deterrence force to safeguard our national security, " Chen said, adding that Taiwan cannot solely rely on the United States to protect it.
Chen said Taiwan appreciates the robust arms sales package announced by the Bush administration in April 2001 that included eight conventional submarines, four used Kidd-class destroyers and P-3C anti-submarine aircraft.
Chen said Taiwan has a priority list for arms procurement. "We'll acquire these advanced weaponry systems to improve our combat capabilities on land, sea, air and underwater. We'll also give priority to developing a missile shield and beefing up anti-submarine combat prowess," he stressed.