Taiwan Urges China to Remove Missiles

[SpArK]

Taiwan Urges China to Remove Missiles

18 Oct 2011 10:23

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan said Oct. 18 that China would have to remove 1,600 missiles targeting the island as a precondition for signing a peace treaty putting a formal end to a civil war fought more than 60 years ago.

Lai Shin-yuan, Taiwan's top China policy maker, made the call a day after the Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said the treaty might be a possibility within the coming decade.

"A precondition for a peace treaty is accumulating enough mutual trust between the two sides, but China's huge military deployment reflects insufficient trust," said Lai, head of the Mainland Affairs Council.

"We continue urging China to voluntarily give up its military deployment, which is felt as a threat by the people of Taiwan."

Lai dismissed concerns that the treaty was designed to lead to unification with China, saying it will ensure "everlasting peace" and the island's goal of "no unification, no independence and no use of force" between the two sides.

A peace treaty is widely considered one of the thorniest issues in the complex relations between China and Taiwan, reflected in Ma's reassurance Monday that it would only happen if the island's people agreed.

Observers have so far tended to believe that a peace treaty is a rather remote prospect, because it will involve difficult questions, such as who should sign the agreement on either side.

Although Taiwan has been governed separately since a civil war ended in 1949, China still claims the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Taiwanese experts estimate the People's Liberation Army currently has more than 1,600 missiles aimed at the island.

However, tensions have eased markedly since Ma took office in 2008 on a Beijing-friendly platform to promote trade and tourism.

Taiwan Urges China to Remove Missiles - Defense News

 

[AkhandIndia]

1600 missiles on small island.......lol..

 

[S10]

The two sides have never declared a truce or armstice from the 1949 civil war. Technically a state of war still exists between Chinese communists and KMT in Taiwan.

 

[S10]

1600 missiles on small island.......lol..

In terms of coverage density, Taiwan is the most protected island in the world. Americans fired hundres of Tomahawks against Iraq in 2003 prior to its ground campaign to weaken the Iraqi military. The ROC is much more modernized and capable than the Iraqis.

 

[AkhandIndia]

In terms of coverage density, Taiwan is the most protected island in the world. Americans fired hundres of Tomahawks against Iraq in 2003 prior to its ground campaign to weaken the Iraqi military. The ROC is much more modernized and capable than the Iraqis.

then they need 16000 for india

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

then they need 16000 for india

Hahaha don't you remember 1962? Even Iraq put up more of a struggle.

 

[JustForFun]

China should remove the missile threat.
Time to normalise relations after all these years.

 

[zenglanmu]

The "Taipei, Taiwan" is a wrong calling for a island which most country in this earth admited it's part of China. The proper name should be taipei, China,or simply taipei rather than taiwan.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

All chinese people have to do is jump up and down at the same time and they will cause an earthquake which will send taiwan to the bottom of the sea.

 

[Kylin]

China should remove the missile threat.
Time to normalise relations after all these years.

problem is, how? Truce with ROC yes, but...
technically, You don't have to target(aim) a missile all time, so while they are stationed somewhere, they are not actually aiming at people.
All the missiles that are stationed around south-east China are short-ranged or middle ranged, they are mobile. Does put them into a storage room counts as removed? What is the point to just move something that can be set up in hours?
Taiwan is so close to mainland that PRC's long-range rockets can cover most of the island, imo that will do much more damage and if a war breaks out, they will be used first.

The missiles stationed there will not be really removed even if a truce is signed since most of them are not really there for the island as ROC claims to gain sympathy. They are there in case USA decide to protect Taiwan when it declare independence. Their range covers major US military bases around China, as long as US still sees China as a threat, they will be there.

 

[JustForFun]

problem is, how? Truce with ROC yes, but...
technically, You don't have to target(aim) a missile all time, so while they are stationed somewhere, they are not actually aiming at people.
All the missiles that are stationed around south-east China are short-ranged or middle ranged, they are mobile. Does put them into a storage room counts as removed? What is the point to just move something that can be set up in hours?
Taiwan is so close to mainland that PRC's long-range rockets can cover most of the island, imo that will do much more damage and if a war breaks out, they will be used first.

The missiles stationed there will not be really removed even if a truce is signed since most of them are not really there for the island as ROC claims to gain sympathy. They are there in case USA decide to protect Taiwan when it declare independence. Their range covers major US military bases around China, as long as US still sees China as a threat, they will be there.

I said missile threat, not missiles itself. You are right it would be only symbolic, but first steps to normalisation are mostly symbolic.
ROC are militairly no threat to China, so aiming/deploying missiles at them can be seen as an agressive move. By removing the missile threat room for diplomacy will be enlarged.

 

[no_name]

Most of these missiles are road mobile so removing them is kind of a moot point. They can be moved back within hours. The distance between Taiwn and China is small enough for some long range rocket artillery to cross.

Taiwan is just making some noise to remind everyone that China can be a potential agressor.

 

[JustForFun]

Most of these missiles are road mobile so removing them is kind of a moot point. They can be moved back within hours. The distance between Taiwn and China is small enough for some long range rocket artillery to cross.

Taiwan is just making some noise to remind everyone that China can be a potential agressor.

Just a symbolic show of goodwill. Possible loss nothing, possible gian a lot.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Double Post.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Just a symbolic show of goodwill. Possible loss nothing, possible gian a lot.

I agree. We should do it as a short-term measure at least, as a sign of goodwill.

The timing is good as well, since the Taiwanese elections are coming up, and it is better for us if Ma Ying-jeou keeps the presidency.

All chinese people have to do is jump up and down at the same time and they will cause an earthquake which will send taiwan to the bottom of the sea.

Buddy, the Taiwanese are our brothers. All solutions to this issue should be peaceful ones.