Defense chief sees mainland attack in 5 to 10 years’ time

Asked to characterize China’s anti-secession law, Lee said it is a warning that the People’s Liberation Army is ready to launch its attacks on Taiwan.

Beijing does not intend the proposed law its National People’s Congress is to rubber-stamp as an increased threat to Taipei, said Lee, after he had testified at a Legislative Yuan committee session.

“But our armed forces are ready to cope with any attacks that may come in five to ten years,” Lee told the press.

At the committee meeting, Lee described Beijing’s threat of the use of force in the anti-secession law as “proactive and more serious.”

In the past, Lee said, China used to say it would not renounce the use of force. “Now, they are talking about the use of non-peaceful means,” he added.

Readiness to use the non-peaceful means, which includes the use of force of arms, is a threat more serious than the non-renunciation of the use of force, according to the defense minister.

Lee also characterized the anti-secession law as a carte Blanche Beijing’s parliament gave the People’s Liberation Army to attack Taiwan.

He testified China, which has deployed cruise and other missiles targeting Taiwan, can launch a series of sustained attacks on military, political and economic establishments on the island after 2006.

Each attack may last 10 hours, Lee cautioned.

“With the defense capability we now have,” the defense minister said, “we may not be able to effectively repel such attacks.”

Please see ATTACK on page

Aside from posing for missile attacks, Lee said, China is strengthening its capability of blockading Taiwan. He confirmed the intrusion of Chinese nuclear submarines into Taiwan’s territorial waters.

Chinese surface warships have sailed near Taiwan, Lee added. Among them are Kirov destroyers.

“Their naval operational capabilities have been extended across our first island chain of defense,” Lee said. China is establishing 16 submarine patrol zones around Taiwan.

After 2006, Lee went on, China will have at least 70 new generation surface warships and 50 better submarines. They will be able to enforce a blockade that will wither the Taiwan economy.

To help maintain the military balance between Taiwan and China, Taipei has to make a US$18 billion arms purchase as soon as practicable, Lee urged.

If the opposition wants to cut the price by NT$300 billion (US$9 billion), Lee said, the Ministry of National Defense has to buy “equipment” first and “ammunition” later.

Lawmakers have yet to approve a special budget bill for the arms purchase from the United States. Lee called for the earliest possible parliamentary authorization to help restore the balance of military power across the Taiwan Strait.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email