The Office of the President welcomes the US decision, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and consideration of Taiwan's actual defense needs, to provide Taiwan with immediately-needed defense weapons. At the same time, Presidential Office wishes to thank the US administration, members of Congress, and our various American friends for their concern and efforts in ensuring Taiwan's security and a military balance across the strait. We believe that this decision will help improve Taiwan's security and strengthen the people's confidence, enabling the maintenace of a military balance and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and furthering a constructive cross-strait dialogue on an equal basis.
We also understand that arms procurement is not the only means of guaranteeing Taiwan's security. It is only through constructive dialogue and the normalization of relations across the strait, can we ensure genuine and everlasting peace. However, as long as the PRC does not renounce the use of force against Taiwan and continues to delay dialogue while increasing its missile deployment and military buildup, we are compelled to purchase necessary defensive articles to maintain Taiwan's basic defensive needs, and to protect our people's lives and property from military threat.
We also hope the PRC can understand that Taiwan's arms procurement and defense policy are designed to counter the PRC military threat. As we proceed with the implementation of arms sales, we hope to see changes in the PRC's posture, to renounce the use of force, withdraw its missile and military deployment in the southeastern coastal area, and engage in peaceful dialogue. This would enable both sides across the Strait to transfer funds used for arms purchases to other areas affecting the well-being of our peoples, such as economic development, public consturction, healthcare, eduacation and soical welfare. We would much prefer to jointly contribute to maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia Pacific region through a peaceful competition of political and social systems.