In the NewsProvisos set for cross-strait military CBM talks
Premier Wu Den-yih laid down two preconditions March 16 for holding cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations on the establishment of military confidence-building measures. Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, Wu said that Taiwan must first ensure its own national security and that the two sides must demonstrate mutual respect and self-restraint before military CBM talks could proceed in a “gradual step-by-step manner.” In order to ensure its security, he continued, Taiwan absolutely must maintain a small yet strong military that can defend its own territory, including the outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. On the basis of mutual respect and self-restraint, Taiwan and mainland China can move forward with military CBM discussions in certain areas on an equal footing, he said. Wu noted that mutual respect and self-restraint could help prevent minor incidents from escalating into major crises that would be difficult to contain. For example, he said that if one of Taiwan’s or mainland China’s ships or airplanes were to cross the median line in the Taiwan Strait, the two sides ought to handle such an incident by remaining calm in order to avoid an armed flare-up that could potentially spiral out of control. On the same occasion, Legislator Justin Chou of the ruling Kuomintang suggested that Taipei and Beijing establish a hotline like the one set up between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era to quickly handle potential crises. In response, Wu said that he would pass on the suggestion to President Ma Ying-jeou at an appropriate time. (SB) |