TMD plan is out in the open -- where it should be

Lung-chu Chen

In his recent report to the KMT's central standing committee, Minister of National Defense Tang Fei (唐飛) proposed a plan to allocate about NT$30 billion each year over the next eight to 10 years for Taiwan's participation in the US Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system. The focus will be on building "low and high altitude missile defense systems."

The military deserves our applause for having finally made up its mind about TMD, a project of great significance to Taiwan's defense and national security.

TMD is a defensive system developed by the US to counter regional missile threats. The purpose of this program is to protect US troops stationed overseas, allied troops and countries friendly to the US against such threats.

Taiwan's participation in TMD is not simply a way to counter Chinese M-class missiles. In the larger context, its chief purpose should be to ensure the stability and security of the Taiwan Strait, to set up a close integration with the strategic structures of key countries in the Asia-Pacific region -- especially Japan and the US -- and to establish a quasi-military alliance and a security community.

In addition to shooting down incoming missiles with missiles, TMD also includes the most advanced air defense systems equipped with satellite surveillance, long-range early warning, intelligence communications, and combat command and control systems. Therefore, TMD can raise Taiwan's overall air defense firepower and help modernize Taiwan's military.

Of course, TMD cannot provide a 100-percent shield against missile attacks. In fact, no missile defense system in the world currently can guarantee complete protection.

The missile defense system currently being planned by the defense ministry includes land-based Patriot III missiles and 1,000 kilometer long-range early warning radars. Once the low-altitude defense system is completed, it will provide effective protection to about 70 percent of Taiwan's important political, business and military facilities. From this, we can see that TMD can provide an effective deterrent against any reckless move by China to use ballistic and cruise missiles to cause social and economic damage to Taiwan.

Currently, both sides of the Taiwan Strait are working hard to develop precision-guided cruise missiles. Both sides will start deploying such missiles before 2005. At that time, TMD will remind China to think twice about attacking Taiwan. The more strategic deterrence Taiwan has, the better it will be able to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Lung-chu is founder and chairman of the Chen Lung-chu New Century Foundation (陳隆志新世紀文教基金會).