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"US Cannot Be Taiwan's Security Umbrella"
The Bush administration has decided on a big batch of arms sales of sophisticated weaponry to include four formidable Kidd-class destroyers and eight diesel-powered submarines to Taiwan. Accordingly, the Taiwan authorities expressed gratitude to the US. But "the US can not be Taiwan's security umbrella, Taiwan's security can in no way rely on US stimulants". Weapons will secure no easy rest for Taiwan; Taiwan should stay away from unnecessary cross-Straits armament race and, what's more important, try not to be a counter or tool of the US against the mainland; Taiwan is in dying need to have a security strategy "transcending armament race", actively return to the"1992 Cross-Straits consensus", promote cross-Straits political consultation and reconcile unnecessary conflicts and cross-Straits standoffs, these are opinions generally held by people in Taiwan.
The United Daily of Taiwan Wednesday carried an editorial in which it pointed out that the Taiwan authorities prefer to build close military ties with the US and seemingly take it as an umbrella. That's also why the former Lee Teng-hui government was so impatient before US made its final decision on TMD that it hurriedly declared his impetuosity to be willing to join in the TMD system though controversies were still found in the US. Actually, different voice occurred at that moment. On the one hand, it takes "peace" as its final target and considers Taiwan should not forwardly stimulate a military crisis; on the other, based on a cost-to-benefit evaluation, it advocates that Taiwan should not spend an enormous figure of budget on armament race.
United Daily claimed by its editorial that it is still not clear whether Taiwan can secure a guarantee to its security after investing such a huge amount of money. The crux of the problem is: Does Taiwan prefer a war or peace when considering the island's cross-straits development strategy? Will intensified armament build-up finally help peace or stimulate potential crises leading to conflicts?
United Daily also points out that Taiwan cannot stake its lot on"diplomatic friendship", or simply believes that it can use US and Japan to curb the mainland. It should deal with the mainland on its own from a long-term point of view instead of being a pawnage at the other's hand. However, it still fails to find a judgement on important issues such as when it will open the three links and do away with the policy of"no haste, be patient".
Many Taiwan people with insight noticed that armament race can in no way guarantee Taiwan's security. To boost cross-Straits exchanges is more important than purchasing weapons. James Soong, president of the People First Party, pointed out that armament race will give no protection to Taiwan. The Taiwan authorities should seriously consider how to establish a security strategy "transcending armament race". He thought Taiwan's security lies in interactive cross-Straits exchanges. Only by avoiding confrontation can Taiwan realize real peace.
Ding Shouzhong, Kuomintang legislator, said bluntly that weapons are absolutely not the only shield of Taiwan under the current situation when interdependent economic and trade relationships and close cross-Straits exchanges are developed. The Taiwan authorities should not gloat over a deterioration of Sino-US relations and feel merry to reap yields from US arms sales to trigger off an unnecessary armament race. He suggested that the authorities should return to the "1992 cross-Straits consensus", promote cross-Straits political consultation and seek to set up a mutual-faith military system so as to melt unnecessary conflicts and frays between the two sides.
Guan Zhong, lecture course professor of International Relationship College of Tamkang University, analyzed that posing as the "overlord of the world", the US has always pursued arms sales as a tool to push its diplomatic policies. By selling weapons to other countries to meet the demand of its allies and supporters, US can help fulfill the target of its diplomatic policies. The US has its goal without doubt to maintain its own selfish interests instead of others.
Guan pointed out that the Taiwan authorities should think over whether US has its aim to further its own interests instead of Taiwan people's wellbeing. Does it really have a reason to fight for Taiwan at all cost? To avoid being a paw in the hands of US, the Taiwan authorities should make clear the basic common consensus of"Chinese will not fight Chinese".
US Arms Sales to Taiwan Escalate Cross-Straits Tension: Experts
Chinese military and foreign affairs experts warned Thursday the US's arms sales to Taiwan will not only severely undermine the Sino-US relations, add to the risks of military collisions across the Taiwan Straits, but also probably lead to a "direct military confrontation" between China and the United States.
The US government announced Wednesday that it will sell advanced weapons and equipment worth billions of US dollars to Taiwan, including four Kidd-class destroyers, eight diesel-powered submarines, and 12 P-3C Orion submarine-hunting aircrafts.
By PD Online staff member Du Minghua
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