Taipei: Taiwan’s vice defence minister warned that China represented an increasing threat to the island’s security despite improving ties between the former bitter rivals, Taipei-based media reported Tuesday.
Andrew Yang, currently visiting the United States, was quoted as saying that there was no sign that China had been relaxing its military deployment against Taiwan regardless of a warmer relationship between the two sides.
“The security threat we face is not falling, but actually growing,” he was quoted by the state Central News Agency as saying in a speech to a Taiwan-US defence conference in Maryland.
Yang was referring to comments by Chinese defence minister Liang Guanglie that the mainland’s military buildup retains its focus on Taiwan, it said.
Ties have improved markedly after Beijing-friendly Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan’s president in 2008, but China still refuses to renounce the possibility of using force should the island declare independence.
Yang again urged Washington to sell F-16 fighter jets and diesel submarines to the island to help maintain the balance in the Taiwan Strait, the report said.
Taiwan has repeatedly pressed the US for the sale of F-16C/Ds, saying sufficient weapons would make the island more confident in dealing with Beijing.
Washington early this year announced a weapons package for Taiwan that includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and equipment for Taiwan’s F-16 fleet, but no submarines or new fighter aircraft.
Analysts have said they doubt Washington would risk angering Beijing by approving more sensitive items like F-16 C/Ds and submarines.
