Thread: PRC-ROC Military Situations.

China Will Use Peaceful Development to Reunite Taiwan (Update2)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Caw&refer=asia

By Eugene Tang and Janet Ong

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said his government will pursue “peaceful development” with Taiwan, in a policy shift that underscores how closer trade ties are changing China’s attempt to reunite with the self-administered island.

The world’s fourth-largest economy, expanding at double the pace of Taiwan’s, is willing to sign a “comprehensive treaty of economic cooperation that complements each other’s competitive advantages” and needs, Hu said today in a televised speech in Beijing. He pledged to protect Taiwan’s investments in China and urged Chinese companies to venture to the island.

China and Taiwan resumed direct flights, shipping and postal services across the Taiwan Strait on Dec. 15, after Ma Ying-jeou was elected as the island’s president in March with a pledge to improve ties with the mainland and abandon his predecessor’s pro- independence stance.

“China’s Taiwan policy is moving in step with the changing realities of modern-day politics and the broader economic environment,” said Liu Hong, director of the Taiwan Research Institute at the Beijing Union University. “This is a turning point in the history of relations across the strait.”

The Chinese Communist Party in 1978 dropped its pledge of “liberation by force” to repatriate Taiwan, replacing it with a policy of “peaceful reunification.” Since then, about 1 million Taiwanese have moved to China to live and work, investing an estimated $150 billion.

Taiwanese Visiting China

As many as 7 million Taiwan residents may have visited China, trips that 30 years ago were considered treasonous and punishable by life imprisonment.

Leaders of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party and the Chinese Communist Party met in Shanghai on Dec. 20 to foster economic ties. China offered 130 billion yuan ($19 billion) of loans to Taiwan companies operating on the mainland and to buy $2 billion of flat-panel displays from the island’s companies.

“Relations across the Taiwan Strait have advanced in leaps and bounds in the past 30 years,” said Wang Yi, director of the Chinese government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, responsible for relations with the island.

The governments of China and Taiwan, administered separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, are technically still in a state of confrontation. The world’s largest regular army has more than 900 missiles along China’s southeastern coast, aimed at Taiwan, while the Taiwanese military is planning to buy $6.5 billion of U.S. weapons including Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Patriot anti-missile systems.

Formal Truce

Hu, chairman of China’s military commission with direct control over the country’s armed forces, today offered to sign a formal armistice with Taiwan. The two militaries can meet regularly to build mutual trust, and create a mechanism to manage risk and lessen tension across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

“Peaceful development is in the best interest of both China and Taiwan,” Hu said, while reiterating that the mainland will oppose any attempt by Taiwan to seek independence.

The Chinese leader’s address today was attended by members of China’s Politburo, the highest policy-making body of the Communist Party, as well as officers from the country’s army.

Hu today encouraged mainland companies to invest in Taiwan and invite Taiwanese companies to reciprocate.

World Health Assembly

China replaced Taiwan in the United Nations General Assembly in 1971, and has blocked the island’s attempts to join world bodies or participate in global events, claiming that any role would be a de facto recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Only 23 countries, mostly in the Pacific, Africa and South America, including Paraguay, have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

China is willing to hold talks on Taiwan’s “non-government economic and cultural exchanges” with foreign nations, and is open to “reasonable arrangements” for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations in ways that don’t hurt the “One China” principle, Hu said today.

Taiwan is discussing with China the possibility of the island participating in the World Health Assembly, the Taipei- based Central News Agency said yesterday, citing an interview with Ma.

To contact the reporters on this story: Eugene Tang in Beijing on eugenetang@bloomberg.net; Janet Ong in Taipei at jong3@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: December 31, 2008 02:46 EST
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Caw&refer=asia

TAIPEI (Reuters) - China may be planning to slowly reduce the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan in a significant show of goodwill towards the self-ruled island, a Taiwanese military official said on Sunday.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

But Beijing may be planning to remove some of its approximately 1,300 short-range and mid-range missiles aimed at Taiwan, which is about 160 km away, said island defence ministry spokeswoman Chih Yu-lan.

"We have some grasp of this situation," Chih said.

Relations between the two sides have already improved since China-friendly Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May. His government has signed trade and transit deals with Beijing while avoiding displays of sovereignty for the island.

China's removal of missiles would be particularly popular with Taiwan's public compared with other recent goodwill measures, such as a gift of two giant pandas and financial incentives for Taiwan investors, political experts on the island say.

But Taiwan's military is not backing down, Chih said.

"We would look favourably at this development (in China), but we need to work on our own safety and not rely on someone else's goodwill," Chih said. "We won't relax our own preparations."
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldN...37275920090104

Taiwan to cut troops amid warming China ties
The Associated Press
Published: January 19, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/...n-Troop-Cu.php
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's military will proceed with a plan to slash the number of troops as relations with China improve and modern weapons technologies are introduced, an official said Monday.

The Defense Ministry will cut the island's 275,000 troops over the next four years, but has yet to decide on the level of cuts, ministry spokeswoman Lisa Chih said.

"It is part of the defense forces' restructuring, taking into consideration the new type of warfare, mainland relations and other external factors," Chih said.

Taiwan is able to reduce its number of troops because of the introduction of more modern weapons systems. It also aims to increase the efficiency of its combat forces, reducing the number of support personnel necessary to maintain them.

The troop cut is also in keeping with President Ma Ying-jeou's promises to gradually replace the current draft system with a voluntary force, she said.
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China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949 and China still claims the island a part of its own territory to be unified by force if necessary. Both sides have built up their arsenals to prepare for a possible military conflict.

But since taking office last May, Ma has moved aggressively to reduce tensions with China by pushing for closer economic cooperation. He has also proposed to build a mutual trust mechanism with the Chinese military and eventually sign a peace treaty.

The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party has been skeptical of Ma's initiatives, fearing Taiwan is letting down its defenses against its old rival.

"We question whether the troop cut is a goodwill gesture to China to help with the peace treaty," said DPP lawmaker Ke Chien-ming.

Official: Taiwan wants Chinese military contacts
Official: Taiwan wants Chinese military contacts

By PETER ENAV – 2 hours ago

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan is working on setting up a think tank to coordinate contacts with the Chinese military, a Defense Ministry official said Monday, in what would be one of the most significant steps so far in rapidly improving relations between the sides.

The official's comments follow last week's assertion by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that Beijing is ready to hold talks with Taiwan on political and military issues aimed at ending hostility with the rival island.

Since the inauguration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in May, long-standing tensions between Taiwan and China have begun to recede, prompted by Ma's renunciation of his predecessor's pro-independence policies, and his continuing efforts to deepen the island's economic relations with the mainland.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry official told The Associated Press that the purpose of the new liaison organization would be to build mutual trust with the Chinese military "on a step by step basis." He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject .

"We want to establish a think tank to reduce the unsafe factors in relations between the sides," he said, without elaborating.

He added that the new organization could be part of a research body at a Taiwanese university but said that no final decision had yet been made.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to see the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened war if it moves to make their break permanent.

Last month the Taiwanese Cabinet-level body responsible for relations with the mainland said that Beijing had some 1,500 missiles aimed at Taiwanese military and civilian targets — an increase of more than 100 since Ma entered office.

The new president has spoken repeatedly of the need for "confidence building measures" between the Taiwanese and Chinese militaries as a prelude to signing a formal peace treaty.

He has frequently pointed to the existence of Chinese missiles as a significant barrier to better relations.

In remarks last week to the opening session of China's National People's Congress, Wen said that Beijing was ready to hold talks with Taiwan to "create conditions for ending the state of hostility and concluding a peace agreement."

The remarks were similar to ones made by President Hu Jintao in December.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By PETER ENAV

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan is working on setting up a think tank to coordinate contacts with the Chinese military, a Defense Ministry official said Monday, in what would be one of the most significant steps so far in rapidly improving relations between the sides.

The official's comments follow last week's assertion by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that Beijing is ready to hold talks with Taiwan on political and military issues aimed at ending hostility with the rival island.

Since the inauguration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in May, long-standing tensions between Taiwan and China have begun to recede, prompted by Ma's renunciation of his predecessor's pro-independence policies, and his continuing efforts to deepen the island's economic relations with the mainland.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry official told The Associated Press that the purpose of the new liaison organization would be to build mutual trust with the Chinese military "on a step by step basis." He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject .

"We want to establish a think tank to reduce the unsafe factors in relations between the sides," he said, without elaborating.

He added that the new organization could be part of a research body at a Taiwanese university but said that no final decision had yet been made.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to see the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened war if it moves to make their break permanent.

Last month the Taiwanese Cabinet-level body responsible for relations with the mainland said that Beijing had some 1,500 missiles aimed at Taiwanese military and civilian targets — an increase of more than 100 since Ma entered office.

The new president has spoken repeatedly of the need for "confidence building measures" between the Taiwanese and Chinese militaries as a prelude to signing a formal peace treaty.

He has frequently pointed to the existence of Chinese missiles as a significant barrier to better relations.

In remarks last week to the opening session of China's National People's Congress, Wen said that Beijing was ready to hold talks with Taiwan to "create conditions for ending the state of hostility and concluding a peace agreement."

The remarks were similar to ones made by President Hu Jintao in December.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Taiwan MND preparing for contacts with China military
Academic organization to serve as conduit for contacts designed to raise mutual trust
Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Page 1
2009-03-09 12:41 AM
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_...&lang=eng_news

The Ministry of National Defense is preparing to set up a think tank for contacts with China's military, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The academic organization would serve as a conduit for contacts designed to raise mutual trust between the two rival nations, the Chinese-language United Evening News reported.

During the rule of President Chen Shui-bian from 2000 to 2008, China rebutted U.S. invitations to meet with Taiwanese military officials in Hawaii, the paper said.

Direct contacts between Taiwanese and Chinese military officers have been rare, even though numerous retired Taiwanese military have visited China for family and business purposes.

The new organization was originally designed to form part of the renowned Institute of International Relations at Taipei's National Chengchi University, but the Cabinet now wants the body to hold an autonomous administrative status, the paper reported.

Interest from academics to join the new body is strong because it could be the way for a career in government, according to the United Evening News.

Full-scale hostilities between Taiwan and China ended when President Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island in 1949, though China still bombarded Taiwanese-held offshore islands as late as 1958.

Over recent years, China raised the number of missiles targeting Taiwan to an estimated 1,500, while maintaining its claims of sovereignty and its threats to intervene militarily if Taiwan proclaimed independence or fell into chaos.

Taiwan's military has shifted its attention from preparations to rebut a full-scale invasion to countering a naval blockade, information warfare designed to hit communications systems, and the expansion of China's naval force to include submarines and aircraft carriers.

The United Evening News also reported that sympathizers of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party had been removed from think tanks and other organizations with close links to the military and security establishment.

and the expansion of China's naval force to include submarines and aircraft carriers.

carriers?

Taiwan has always been under the assumption that China wanted a carrier. It would complicate the RoCA defence planning to no end.

In the meanwhile.............



http://www.reuters.com/article/polit...5292WL20090310



U.S. declines to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan : MP

Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:49am EDT

By Ralph Jennings



TAIPEI (Reuters) - The U.S. government has declined to make a long-awaited sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan for fear of upsetting China, Taiwan's parliament speaker said on Tuesday.



The White House blocked the $4.9 billion deal for 66 advanced F-16s last year and there was little hope of it being revived this year, said Wang Jin-pyng.



"The U.S. doesn't want to give them to us," Wang told Reuters in an interview.



"They wouldn't name a price. It's mainly because mainland China would oppose the sale."



China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island.



Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary, and opposes all U.S. arms sales to the island. Washington recognizes China diplomatically and is seeking to improve relations with the Asian economic powerhouse.



Although China-Taiwan ties have improved since President Ma Ying-jeou took office on the island last year, deep military distrust lingers between the two sides.



Taiwan first asked to buy new F-16s in 2007 after approving substantial funding for the aircraft. Wang said Taiwan 's current fleet is 16 years old, Wang said.



The U.S. Pacific Command said in July that U.S. policymakers saw no pressing need to sell advanced arms to Taiwan .

Japan Economic Newswire

March 9, 2009 Monday 8:59 AM GMT



U.S. set to approve helicopter sale to Taiwan this year: sources



TAIPEI March 9





Taiwan 's defense ministry has earmarked an initial $230US million to buy 60 military helicopters from the United States amid fresh indications the U.S. Congress will likely approve the deal, according to a Taiwanese military official and U.S. lobbyists.



"We've earmarked $8NT billion ($230US million) in our defense budget for 60 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters," the military official said on condition of anonymity.



Overall, the island's military is committed to the deal, widely considered a litmus test for further U.S. arms sales to the island, to the tune of $14NT.6 billion ($420US million), the official said.



The earmark came as U.S. lobbyists with ties to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. -- which manufactures the Black Hawk, a utility helicopter used to transport troops and cargo -- said the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is trending toward submitting the deal to Congress for review.



"The deal is supposed to pass congressional notification this fall," a lobbyist familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity because of political sensitivity.



Congressional notification is a vital step in the U.S. foreign military sales process, which requires Congress to review and approve deals within 50 days of their submission.



The Obama administration will likely start reviewing pending arms deals to Taiwan in June, said Rubert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, which represents roughly 100 U.S. firms with business interests in Taiwan , including top military contractors.



'Through the summer, they should formulate a fairly good plan on how the U.S. is going to respond to rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait that will include arms sales and their overall goals," he said, adding that congressional notification of the Black Hawks would most likely take place in September or October.



Last month, amid U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to China, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. finalized a $1US.3 billion deal to refurbish a dozen antisubmarine aircraft for sale to Taiwan.



China typically fumes over such deals.



Last year, irate over congressional notification of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan worth $6US.4 billion, Beijing severed military exchanges and cooperation with Washington .



The two sides recently agreed to resume exchanges between their armed forces. But even as military-to-military ties recover, Washington appears ready to act on pending arms deals with Taipei , itself in the midst of warming relations with Beijing .



China has claimed Taiwan as its territory since the island split away at the end of a civil war in 1949. It threatens to attack the self-ruled island should it formalize its de facto independence.



Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has toned down Taipei 's pro-sovereignty rhetoric since taking office last year. The result has been a flurry of trade and transit pacts with China , with prospects emerging for bilateral military exchanges.



Defense Minister Chen Chao-min told Taiwan 's parliament Monday that the military plans to establish a think tank that would formulate confidence-building measures aimed at ratcheting down tensions across the strait.

apan Economic Newswire

March 9, 2009 Monday 8:59 AM GMT



U.S. set to approve helicopter sale to Taiwan this year: sources



TAIPEI March 9





Taiwan 's defense ministry has earmarked an initial $230US million to buy 60 military helicopters from the United States amid fresh indications the U.S. Congress will likely approve the deal, according to a Taiwanese military official and U.S. lobbyists.



"We've earmarked $8NT billion ($230US million) in our defense budget for 60 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters," the military official said on condition of anonymity.



Overall, the island's military is committed to the deal, widely considered a litmus test for further U.S. arms sales to the island, to the tune of $14NT.6 billion ($420US million), the official said.



The earmark came as U.S. lobbyists with ties to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. -- which manufactures the Black Hawk, a utility helicopter used to transport troops and cargo -- said the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is trending toward submitting the deal to Congress for review.



"The deal is supposed to pass congressional notification this fall," a lobbyist familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity because of political sensitivity.



Congressional notification is a vital step in the U.S. foreign military sales process, which requires Congress to review and approve deals within 50 days of their submission.



The Obama administration will likely start reviewing pending arms deals to Taiwan in June, said Rubert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, which represents roughly 100 U.S. firms with business interests in Taiwan , including top military contractors.



'Through the summer, they should formulate a fairly good plan on how the U.S. is going to respond to rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait that will include arms sales and their overall goals," he said, adding that congressional notification of the Black Hawks would most likely take place in September or October.



Last month, amid U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to China, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. finalized a $1US.3 billion deal to refurbish a dozen antisubmarine aircraft for sale to Taiwan.



China typically fumes over such deals.



Last year, irate over congressional notification of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan worth $6US.4 billion, Beijing severed military exchanges and cooperation with Washington .



The two sides recently agreed to resume exchanges between their armed forces. But even as military-to-military ties recover, Washington appears ready to act on pending arms deals with Taipei , itself in the midst of warming relations with Beijing .



China has claimed Taiwan as its territory since the island split away at the end of a civil war in 1949. It threatens to attack the self-ruled island should it formalize its de facto independence.



Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has toned down Taipei 's pro-sovereignty rhetoric since taking office last year. The result has been a flurry of trade and transit pacts with China , with prospects emerging for bilateral military exchanges.



Defense Minister Chen Chao-min told Taiwan 's parliament Monday that the military plans to establish a think tank that would formulate confidence-building measures aimed at ratcheting down tensions across the strait.

Taiwan renews drive for advanced fighter aircraft
CATCHING UP: Some defense specialists say that the military balance in the Taiwan Strait tipped in China’s favor in 2007. More, newer weapons are needed, fast
By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER, WITH AGENCIES, WASHINGTON
Monday, Mar 16, 2009, Page 1

Taiwan has renewed a drive to buy advanced US-built F-16 fighter aircraft, confronting US President Barack Obama with a delicate decision.

Detailing its arms shopping list for the first time since Obama took office, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) — Taiwan’s representative office in Washington — said its current fighter force was inadequate to a potential threat from China across the 177km-wide Taiwan Strait.

The largest part of Taiwan’s air force, F-5 fighters, have been in service for more than 34 years, a TECRO spokesman said.

“The planes now are obsolete and spare parts are difficult to obtain,” said TECRO spokesman Vance Chang (張鷹) in an e-mail response to questions about Taiwan’s arms requests.

China has built increasingly advanced fighters, the statement said, “therefore our air superiority capability is at a serious disadvantage.”

“Taiwan’s determination to defend itself is indisputable,” it said.

Taiwan has been trying for 12 years to buy F-16C/D models built by Lockheed Martin Corp of Bethesda, Maryland.

The US government is required by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide Taiwan sufficient arms to defend itself.

Successive US administrations have managed the weapons flow to minimize fallout with China — a major trading partner and the biggest foreign holder of US Treasury bonds.

In its final years, the administration of former US president George W. Bush would not even accept a formal request for the advanced F-16s, said the US-茅aiwan Business Council, which represents about 100 companies, including Lockheed Martin.

The US “has an obligation to assist Taiwan to maintain a credible defense of its air space, which includes modern fighters,” council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers said.

Taiwan wants 66 F-16C/Ds valued at up to US$4.9 billion to bolster 150 F-16A/B models it bought in 1992.

The US State Department had no immediate comment on the statement from TECRO.

Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary, and opposes US arms sales as interference in its domestic affairs.

In October, the Bush administration notified US Congress of possible arms sales to Taiwan of up to US$6.4 billion, including Patriot Advanced Capability antimissile batteries, Apache attack helicopters and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

“We were eager to achieve a golden mean — a robust package of arms sales that met Taiwan’s immediate defense needs but was not perceived in Beijing as undermining the progress in cross- strait relations,” said Dennis Wilder, senior director for East Asian affairs on Bush’s White House National Security Council.

“I believe we achieved that goal,” he added in an e-mail response to Reuters.

In its statement to Reuters, TECRO made clear President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration was still seeking UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters built by United Technologies Corp’s Sikorsky unit and design work on modern diesel-electric submarines.

These two items were cleared for release to Taiwan by Bush as part of a landmark arms offer in April 2001, but left out of the October notification to Congress. The deals were held up for years, largely by partisan hurdles to funding in Taiwan.

Funds to start acquiring the work on submarines, Black Hawk helicopters and the F-16C/Ds now have been approved by the legislature, TECRO said.

Wilder said the Bush administration had told Taiwan that it was not denying it any of the weapons approved in 2001, but would leave the decision to Obama.

“We wanted to leave the door open for the next US administration to do its own review in consultation with Taiwan to decide on future arms sales,” he said.

In Taipei yesterday, panelists attending a forum hosted by the Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies urged the government to continue to develop a short-range missile program initiated under the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government.

In 2002, Taiwan successfully test-fired the Hsiung Feng-II anti-ship missile, developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.

The missile has a range exceeding 150km and can be fired from land, sea or air. Taiwan was also developing the Hsiung Feng-III, with a range of 300km that would make China’s southern and eastern coasts possible targets. The missiles were developed with the aim of deterring the People’s Liberation Army navy, the government said at the time.

Since taking office in May, the Ma administration has been accused by DPP lawmakers of appeasing China by shying away from developing offensive weapons.

Former deputy minister of national defense Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) yesterday said he was concerned the Ma government could mothball the programs.

Former DPP legislator Lee Wen-chung (李文忠), another panelist at the forum, said Ma and the National Security Council seemed to have adopted the view, expounded by US Naval War College professor William Murray in an article last year, that Taiwan should build a strong homeland defense capability with less emphasis on air and sea power.

“Without appropriate air force and naval capabilities, public will would collapse on the first or second day [of an invasion],” Lee said.

“Military experts have said that the military balance [in the Taiwan Strait] tipped in China’s favor in 2007 and that from that year on, Taiwan would not be able to catch up. Taiwan should therefore quickly develop a military strategy for asymmetric warfare,” he said.

Lee added that one of the most effective strategies in such a scenario was the use of surgical missile strikes.

The military should also develop cruise missiles with a range of 1,000km and request Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) from the US, Lee said
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/fron.../16/2003438588

Taiwan should establish new combat abilities: strategists
Central News Agency
2009-03-15 08:27 PM
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Taipei, March 15 (CNA) The non-government Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies (ITDSS) released a report Sunday on the Ministry of National Defense's (MND's) first quadrennial report due to be issued the following day, suggesting the government develop "persistent and asymmetric" combat abilities by upgrading information gathering and missile defense, as well as conducting military reforms.

ITDSS Chairman Michael Tsai, a former deputy defense minister, and ITDSS executive Lee Wen-chung, a former legislator, made the call at a news conference hosted by the institute to release the report.

They contended that developing asymmetric combat abilities such as reconnaissance, information gathering and missile defense are extremely important given the imbalance in military forces on either side of the Taiwan Strait.

Asymmetric combat abilities involve strategies and tactics of unconventional warfare that the "weaker" combatants attempt to use to offset deficiencies in the quantity or quality of their forces.

The ITDSS report predicts that the quality and quantity of China's military will outweigh Taiwan's by 2010, an unprecedented imbalance between the two sides since 1949.

It also suggests that a general reconstruction is needed in the country's military in terms of organization, personnel, guidelines and culture to achieve an effective upgrade.

"Upgrading weaponry is simply not enough. It has to be combined with military reform in order to increase our combat abilities," they said, adding that better troops and simplified administration are necessary.

Lee and Tsai also expressed reservations on the government's plan to implement an all-volunteer military system by 2014, saying that now is not the right time to promote such a program.

"The decision is not a careful military decision but rather a political one, " Lee said, questioning where good professional soldiers could be recruited from and how the government would finance such a program.

The report argues that conscription and volunteering systems should work hand in hand in order to achieve the best efficiency and that the MND should strike a balance between national defense and the nation's finances.

(By Rachel Chan)

International Herald Tribune
Taiwan: Time not right for reducing China tensions
http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=20836630
The Associated Press
Monday, March 16, 2009

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan will not make concrete moves to reduce military tensions with China before the mainland renounces its threat to use force against the island and removes the missiles it has deployed against it, the defense minister said Monday.

The comments from Chen Chao-min appear to pour cold water on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's call earlier this month to hold talks with Taiwan on military issues in the pursuit of ending hostility between the longtime rivals.

They come on the same day that senior officers reaffirmed their interest in acquiring advanced weapons systems from the United States and the Defense Ministry said in a far-reaching policy document that Taiwanese readiness "cannot be relaxed," despite improving relations between Taipei and Beijing.

Since taking office 10 months ago, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has moved aggressively to reverse his predecessor's pro-independence polices, sanctioning a rapid expansion in trade relations with the mainland, and raising the prospect of a formal peace treaty between the sides.

But speaking to lawmakers in Taipei, Chen alluded to repeated Chinese threats to attack Taiwan if it moves to make its de facto independence permanent and long-standing Taiwanese concerns over the estimated 1,300 missiles Beijing has deployed against the island.

"A mechanism for building mutual confidence in military affairs cannot be established if China does not first give up its threat to use force against Taiwan and remove missiles targeted at us," he said.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949 and China continues to claim the democratic island as part of its territory. Four years ago it passed a special law formalizing its threats to attack if Taipei declared independence or put off unification with the mainland indefinitely.

Speaking to the lawmakers, Chen also said Taiwan will continue to develop the Hsiung Feng IIE surface-to-surface cruise missile as a defensive weapon, following the legislature's approval of the project last year.

"Unless the legislature demands us to stop, the Ministry of Defense will not halt (the project)," he said.

Taiwan reportedly test-fired a Hsiung Feng IIE missile with a range of 380 miles (600 kilometers) in October 2004, but its military has never displayed or deployed it.

Chen's comments came on the day the defense ministry unveiled its first "Quadrennial Defense Review," detailing Taiwan's expected military posture over the coming four years.

While acknowledging that tensions across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait have receded since Ma took office, it noted Beijing was still threatening the island.

"Vigilance for military readiness, therefore, cannot be relaxed," it said.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the defense review's publication, senior Taiwanese officers reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to continuing to acquire cutting-edge weapons systems from the United States, including F-16 C/D fighter jets and diesel submarines.

Taiwan first approached the U.S. on the F-16 issue during the administration of former President Chen Shui-bian, but was repeatedly rebuffed. China strongly objects to American arms sales to Taiwan, and would view a new F-16 delivery to the island as a threat to its own growing military prowess in the Taiwan Strait.

Earlier this month the U.S. agreed to make Orion PC-3 submarine-hunting aircraft available to Taiwan and is believed to be close to signing off on a sales contract for Black Hawk utility helicopters.

But any serious consideration on the F-16s is believed to be months away — at the very least.
Correction:

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php...72&c=AME&s=AIR





Taiwan Gets 12 Orion ASW Aircraft

By wendell minnick



Published: 15 Mar 09:27 EDT (13:27 GMT)



TAIPEI – The U.S released 12 P-3C Orion anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol aircraft March 13 to Taiwan when the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced a $665 million firm-fixed-price contract award to Lockheed Martin, Maritime Systems and Sensors Tactical Systems, under the Foreign Military Sales program.



The award includes the procurement of phased depot maintenance, structural service life extension, and avionics modification on 12 P-3 aircraft.



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Land Warfare

Naval Warfare

Work will be performed in the U.S. and be completed in August 2015. The Maryland-based U.S. Naval Air Systems Command was the contracting activity.



The P-3 award follows the DSCA announcement in October for a $6.4 billion arms package that enraged China . Beijing retaliated by discontinuing military-to-military exchanges with the U.S. , now restarted with the Obama administration.



The October package included an E-2 Hawkeye aircraft upgrade, 30 AH-64D Block III Apache Longbow attack helicopters, 330 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, 32 UGM-84L sub-launched Harpoon Block II missiles, spare parts for F-5E/F, C-130H, F-16A/B and the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), and 182 Javelin guided missile anti-tank rounds. Missing from the list was a submarine design study and 60 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters.



The P-3s and the October arms package release were part of the Bush administration's April 2001 arms deal to Taiwan that included eight submarines, now on hold. The Bush offer became a nightmare when members of Taiwan 's legislature refused to approve budget requests and turned the deal into a political football.



The issue was resolved in early 2008 when the Beijing-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) unseated the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in presidential and legislative elections.



However, the long-delayed arms deal resulted in even more delays for other items, some going back a decade. Deferred procurements, or wish-list items, include four Aegis-equipped destroyers, M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), AGM-88 HARM (High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile) anti-radiation missiles, and 66 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighter aircraft. Taiwan has also been discussing the idea of procuring F-35 fighters when and if they become available.



Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), is reportedly preparing to renew pressure on releasing F-16s.



Taiwan's fighter inventory includes 146 F-16A/B Block 20, 128 Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF), 56 Mirage 2000-5s and roughly 60 aging F-5s. There is a pressing need to replace the F-5s to maintain its current air power capability.



The U.S. is the last country selling arms to Taiwan . Due to Chinese pressure, Europe and Israel discontinued arms sales to Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s, and a French sale of Mirage fighter aircraft and Lafayette frigates in the 1990s resulted in a disastrous corruption scandal that ended all future arms from Paris .



In the past 10 years, Taiwan 's indigenous arms industry has wilted in favor of reliable and tested U.S. arms. The result is a narrow non-competitive choice for arms from the U.S. that could now face an end as Chinese pressure on Washington grows.



Questions remain regarding the direction the new Obama administration policy will take on Taiwan . Economic and diplomatic pressure from Beijing will no doubt continue to influence Washington . A U.S. government source said China successfully pressured Washington to freeze arms sales to Taiwan in 2007 and 2008. It was not until intense lobbying by pro-Taiwan advocates in Washington that the Bush administration released the October arms deal.



With China holding $1.9 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and Washington asking Beijing to buy even more U.S. debt, there are concerns Obama's pending Taiwan policy will favor no arms in the future.