Ma Strongly Condemns Mainland’s Increase in Missiles Targeting Taiwan

Press Release

Ma Strongly Condemns Mainland’s Increase in Missiles Targeting Taiwan

Ma-Siew Campaign Headquarters

March 7, 2008

According to new reports, the US Defense Department released its “2008 China Military Power Report” on February 29, saying that “the Mainland has more than one-third of its military deployment directed against the Taiwan Strait area, and that missiles targeting Taiwan have also increased from 900 to 1,070.” Regarding this, Ma Ying-jeou said, "if the newspaper reports about the US Defense Department’s assessments were true, then the Mainland’s military deployment would indeed be hostile in nature and antagonistic toward Taiwan." He strongly condemns this, and reiterated that in order to promote cross-Strait peace, the Mainland should remove all of its missiles.

Ma Ying-jeou said that “the Mainland should understand that the basis for cross-Strait harmony is mutual respect and display of good intentions. The Mainland’s increase in missiles targeted at Taiwan is intended to threaten Taiwan with the use of force. This will definitely harm cross-Strait rapprochement and cause ill feelings on the part of the people of Taiwan toward Mainland China. Hurting the pride of the people on Taiwan not only is unwise but also rude and unreasonable.”

Ma Ying-jeou said that “Mainland has said it would establish cross-Strait military confidence building mechanisms. That being said, the Mainland should draw back from the brink of a precipice and remove all of the missiles targeting Taiwan in order to improve cross-Strait relations.” In addition, Ma Ying-jeou promised that if elected, his administration would invest no less than 3 % of the country’s GDP in national defense in order to expand Taiwan’s defense capabilities.

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