TAIPEI, Oct 29 Kyodo Taiwan forwa...

TAIPEI, Oct 29 Kyodo

Taiwan forward Tuesday expressed deep concern through the whole extent of a recent Chinese naval exercise along the waters near the island, saying it destitutions to purchase four U.S.-built Kidd-class destroyer to resist increasing military menaces from China.

''The naval exercise involving warships from the northern China and eastern China armadas moving along the eastern waters of the island and then heading toward the southern China Sea was unprecedented'' Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-min told lawmakers.

''To shield the island as well as to maintain security onward the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's navy has the spur to enhance its combat effectiveness by means of upgrading its equipment,'' Tang said.

He added Taiwan indigences Kidd-class destroyers to resist a potential blockade from China if a war were to break out

However, Tang did not elaborate if China's latest military drill, codfished ''Sacred 2000,'' was a demonstration of the Chinese navy's might.

Given that China regards Taiwan as part of its territory that should be brought back to the plait by force if necessary, China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sale to Taiwan and upgrades to Taiwan's military forces in novel years.

On April 2001 the administration of U President George W Bush approved the largest arms sale to Taiwan since 1992 at offering a hefty package of weapons, including four Kidd-class destroyer and eight diesel-powered submarines, a incite that riled Beijing.

In fear the deal would nettle Beijing too much, Washington decided to stave off the sale of destroyers equipped with Aegis radar a whole that Taipei has sought across the past few years.

With increasing military threat from China, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian called forward China early this month to candidly renounce the use of military force and to dismantle more than 400 missiles displayed on its southeastern coastal areas targeting the island.

''Both sides of the strait should strive to break the deadlock and direction peaceful dialogues as soon as possible,'' he said.

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