MOFA thanks US for firm stance on cross-strait peace

2016/05/18

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked May 14 the U.S. for paying close attention to Taiwan’s national security situation and cross-strait relations, and for its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act as demonstrated in the latest U.S. Department of Defense annual report on military and security developments involving mainland China.

As per the TRA, the report said the U.S. has contributed to peace, security and stability in the Taiwan Strait through such efforts as announcing arms sales of more than US$14 billion to Taiwan since 2009 to help the nation maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities.

Signed into law in 1979 following the switch of recognition from Taipei to Beijing by the U.S., the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people on Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties between them, as well as to help maintain peace, security and stability in the western Pacific.

While addressing the current and likely course of mainland China’s military-technology development and future security and military strategies, the report said Taiwan’s military spending has dropped to around 2 percent of its gross domestic product, whereas mainland China’s official defense budget has surged to about 14 times that of Taiwan’s.

In response to the report, the Ministry of National Defense said Taiwan’s annual defense budget, although representing less than 3 percent of its GDP, has been trending upward over the last three years.

The MND has repeatedly stated that the government would consider using a reserve fund or other sources to finance major arms procurements in the future. “The armed forces will continue making effective use of available resources to bolster national defense, safeguard national security and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=244769&ctNode=2194&mp=9)