Taipei Times / Aug 30. 2003
Warning given on threat from China
NATIONAL DEFENSE: Beijing will attain a significant military edge in the Taiwan Strait by
2008 unless the government here boosts its defensive capabilities
AFP , TAIPEI
The Ministry of National Defense warned yesterday that China stands a chance of
attacking after 2008 unless Taiwan continues to strengthen its defensive capabilities to
counter the threat.
It is also most likely that China will carry on intimidating this country before 2008,
according to a report by the ministry made available to lawmakers along with the
ministry's defense budget proposal for next year.
"After 2008, if our defense capabilities are not sufficiently boosted, the military
imbalance will create a favorable condition for China to paralyze us militarily and
launch an attack," the report said.
An invasion will be possible if the international situation becomes unfavorable to
Taiwan or when the hawks in the Chinese military get the upper hand, it said.
Political instability in China could also prompt an attack, it said.
But the ministry saw slim chance for a drastic political change in China during the
term of Chinese President Hu Jintao, who like his predecessor Jiang Zemin, has
maintained close interaction with the international community.
The report said as of the end last year, the People's Liberation Army totalled some 2.3
million troops, with 64 percent of them being ground forces.
Six percent are artillery troops, which have deployed more than 400 ballistic missiles
aimed Taiwan, it said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese air force has some 3,000 fighters, one-third of which are
deployed within 1,111km of Taiwan.
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Taipei Times / Aug 30. 2003
Last month, the Pentagon also warned in its annual report to the US Congress that
China's military modernizations were giving Beijing the ability to launch a surprise
attack on Taiwan that would keep US forces in the western Pacific at bay.
The US said Beijing was annually adding 75 short-range missiles to its batteries
aimed at Taiwan and was acquiring or developing weapons and tactics aimed at
countering technologically superior US forces.
In its budget proposal, the ministry planned to spend NT$265 billion (US$7.75 billion)
next year, up NT$7.8 billion from this year.
Premier Yu Shyi-kun reportedly guaranteed the US last year that the government
would invest NT$700 billion in modern weaponry in the 10 years beginning 2006.
Chinese-language media reports have said Taiwan is prepared to push that schedule
up by one year and begin its own military buildup in 2005.
On the military's shopping list are eight conventional submarines, long-range early
warning radar systems and Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile systems.
Chai releases new book on FTV
LONG STRUGGLE: Trong Chai's book is an account of his ideals to nurture democracy in
Taiwan by founding the first private TV station in the country
By Chang Yun-ping
STAFF REPORTER
One day after his resignation as the chairman of Formosa TV (FTV), DPP Legislator
Trong Chai released his new book FTV and I yesterday, which is an account of his
efforts to push for the democratization of Taiwan by establishing FTV as the nation's
first private terrestrial TV station.
Founded in 1996, FTV was the brainchild of Chai, who fought to break the KMT's
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Taipei Times / Aug 30. 2003
monopoly on terrestrial TV broadcasting at a time when China Television Co was
controlled by the KMT, Taiwan Television Enterprise was owned by the Taiwan
Provincial Government and Chinese Television System was run by the military.
Addressing a press conference at the book launch, Chai said: "for the sake of Taiwan,
I established FTV, hoping to cultivate dignity and patriotism in the Taiwanese people ?
I've seen FTV becoming a trademark for localization work in this country and a major
local TV station. Now, for the sake of FTV, I have decided to leave."
Chai resigned as FTV chairman on Thursday to comply with the DPP's policy of
ridding the media of any political influence.
FTV is the nation's fourth terrestrial TV station. It has one terrestrial TV channel and
one cable TV channel with a variety of programs covering news, drama and other
topics.
Chai, a long-term independence activist, lived in the US for three decades during
which time he co-founded the Formosan Association for Public Affairs and devoted
himself to lobbying for improving Taiwan's freedom and democracy.
"I have fought for Taiwan's democracy
for the people of Taiwan."
and freedom for 30 years in the US.
Since returning to Taiwan 13 years ago,
I still strive towards the same goals. My
personal success and failure is closely
related to Taiwan's development. If
Taiwan is swallowed by China, it would
mean a complete failure of my entire
political career, but if Taiwan finally
becomes an independent country, it
would be the realization of my life-long
ideal," Chai said in the book's preface.
DPP Legislator Wang Sing-nan, a good
friend of Chai's, attended the press
conference and said: "Chai's founding of
FTV and then finally withdrawing from
it are like Jesus Christ carrying the cross
DPP legislator and former chairman of Formosa
TV Trong Chai launches his new book FTV and
I.
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Taipei Times / Aug 30. 2003
DPP Lawmaker Lee Chun-yee yesterday said: "I actually opposed Chai's withdrawal
from FTV and I don't think one can free the media from political influence. I think
competition is a better way of achieving a more neutral stance in the media.
"Furthermore, none of the press organizations is totally without a political stance,
making it even more difficult to free the media from all political influence," he said.
Guns and butts
A section of a photo from ``Liberating the Battlefield -- Images of Strange Lust for Women's Bodies,'''
a photography anthology of nude women shot with Kinmen military facilities in the background.
Kinmen-born movie director Tung Chen-liang cooperated with photographers Kuo Chen-chang and
Bao Dao on the project.
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Taipei Times / Aug 30. 2003
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