National Defense Tactics
4. Military Mutual Trust Mechanisms
Taiwan's national security is intimately linked to cross-strait relations. In remarks from February 2004, President Chen Shui-bian stated that the future development of cross-strait relations should revolve around the "one principle (the principle of peace) and four major issue areas (the establishment of negotia-tion mechanisms, exchanges based on equality and reciprocity, establishment of political relations, and prevention of military conflicts)." In his National Day remarks on October 10, 2004, he went on to propose "officially ending the state of hostility in the Taiwan Strait," "establishing cross-strait military confidence-building measures," "reviewing cross-strait armament policies," and "formulating a Code of Conduct across the Strait." Based on the content of these statements, he promoted the peace and stability framework for cross-strait interaction to become one of Taiwan's most fundamental policy positions. In the May 17 Statement of 2004, China mentioned that it would be willing to establish "cross-strait military mutual trust mechanisms" with certain conditions.
Cross-strait military mutual trust mechanisms must be established on a foundation of mutual trust. The goal of such mechanisms is to offer cross-strait dialogue and communication, conflict reduction, crisis management, an increase in the number of methods of building mutual trust, and ending the state of hostili-ty, thus creating a win-win situation of peace in the Taiwan Strait. With regard to concrete measures, both sides should start from Track 1 in order to avoid unnec-essary confusion, but they need not reject Track 2. With regard to the necunnec-essary tools, both sides should consider the need for a gradual approach, including, for example, a hotline and regular meetings. Coming into actual contact is also nec-essary for both sides in maintaining an atmosphere of military mutual confidence aided by pragmatic and thorough planning.
In the near term, both sides must focus on "building mutual good faith and reaching common ground while preserving the uniqueness of both sides,"
increasing mutual interaction, understanding each other's goodwill, and resolving
security seriously and fully support the promotion of defense measures and poli-cies. At the same time, the only way to create a win-win situation for both Taiwan and China in future political negotiations is a framework of peace, mutual benefit, and equality.
must prepare for its defense needs twenty years in advance, planning a new generation of weapons and military forces. The development of information tech-nology moves at an especially quick pace, including hacking and surveillance systems. Constant change is the nature of today's weaponry, and Taiwan must keep its finger on the pulse of this change in order to hold together its defense capabilities.
The Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology shoulders most of the responsibility for defense technology and weapons research and development in Taiwan, and it has a record of significant achievements. Unfortunately, recent changes in government policy and defense budget cuts are causing the Institute's manpower and funds to wither day by day, rendering its research achievements less than astounding. With future interference from China and its Great Power Diplomacy, Taiwan will face significant obstacles and diff i c u l t i e s when it tries to purchase advanced arms, whether they be from the US, the EU, or other countries, making Taiwan's own research and development continually more important. Taiwan cannot rely entirely on foreign countries for its defense needs; arms production must be self-sufficient, and Taiwan must adopt an inte-grated strategy for domestic research and development, coupled with foreign arms purchases. To accommodate the third generation of forces, after cutting the number of troops as per the Armed Forces Refining Program and cutting person-nel costs, the national defense budget should be adjusted accordingly. In order to maintain autonomy over national defense, the Chung-Shan Institute's budget in particular should not be cut again, but should rather receive a level of support fit-ting for its mission.18
In addition, organizational adjustments, increases in the quality of person-nel, reforms in the system of mandatory military service, terrorism response mechanisms, and unified tactical training are all important issues in national defense today. The dimensions of defense affairs are complex, of which the most important factor is the military threat from China. All of Taiwan's current policies and actions relating to defense are measures aimed at dealing with China's mili-tary threat. Taiwan is not competing with China in building up its milimili-tary, but Taiwan must earnestly call on the ruling and opposition parties to take national
Notes
1Lou Yaoliang, "Diyuan Zhengzhi yu Zhongguo Guofang Zhanlüe," ("Geopolitics and China's National Defense Strategy"). Tianjin, Tianjin People's Press, 2002.06, p. 186.
2Shen Ming-shih and Tsai Cheng-ting, "Yingxiang Wo Guo Junshi Zuzhi yu Binli Jiegou Guihua Yinsu Fenxi,"
("An Analysis of Factors Affecting Taiwan's Military Organization and Force Structure Plan"), Taiwan Defense Affairs. Vol. 3, No.2, Winter 2003/2004, p. 110.
3Shen Ming-shih, "Xin Shiji Gongjun dui Tai Feiwuli San Zhan - Xinli Zhan, Yanlun Zhan, Fal¸ Zhan" ("The People's Liberation Army in the New Century and the NonViolent Three Warfares against Taiwan -Psychological Warfare, Media Warfare, and Legal Warfare"), Xin Shiji Guojia Anquan yu Guofang Siwei, (National Security and National Defense Logic for a New Century). Tseng Chang-rui, ed., Chou Mao-lin, and Hu Rui-tan, Taipei, National Open University Publications, pp. 157-171.
4Shen Weiguang, New Thought of War. Beijing, Xinhua Publishing House, 2002.01, pp. 15-24.
5Zhu Jinping, Yanlun Zhan (Media Warfare). Beijing, China Yanshi Press, 2005.05, pp. 258-286.
6Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell, trans. New York, Harpers Collins Publishers, 1988, Ch. 31.
7Wang Wenrong, On the Third Modernization of the PLA. Beijing, PLA Publishing House, 2005.02, p. 129.
8Li Liming, "Quanqiuhua Shidai de Guofang Siwei" ("The Logic of National Defense in a Globalized Era"), Junshi Guofang (Military Defense). Taipei, Foundation of National Development and Research, 2004.01, pp. 93-118.
9Lai Yueh-tchienn, "Meiguo Buduichen Zhanzheng zhi Yanjiu" ("America's Asymmetrical Warfare"), Kejiyu Guofang Yantaohui Lunwenji (Technology and National Defense Conference Papers), 2003.04.
10Nelson Ku, Guofang Maidan Zhi Duoshao, (How Much do You Know about National Defense?). Taipei, Commonwealth Publishing Company, 2003.12.
11Su Chin-chiang, Taiwan Strait Security in the Era of Globalization. Taipei, Yang-chih Publishing, 2003.09, p. 2
12Ministry of National Defense, 2004 National Defense Report. Taipei, edited by the Ministry of National Defense, 2004.12., p. 57
13Su Chin-chiang, op. cit. pp. 3-18.
14Su Chin-chiang, op. cit.
15Hung Lu-hsun, Junshi Zhengzhixue: Wenwu Guanxi Lilun (Military Politics: a Theory of Civil-Military Relations). Taipei, Wunan Publishing, 2002.09, p. 361.
16Chen Pi-chao, Liang An Jianli Junshi Huxin Jizhi zhi Yuanze yu Zuofa (The Principles and Procedures of Cross-Strait Military Mutual Trust Mechanisms). Special report for the Mainland Affairs Council, 2000.11, p. 85.
17Weng Ming-hsien and Wu Chien-te, Liang An Guanxi yu Xinxin Jianli Cuoshi (Cross-Strait Relations and Confidence Building Measures). Taipei, Huali Books Co., 2005.09, p. 515.
18Shen Ming-shih, Zhanlüe Zongheng (Horizontal and Vertical Strategy). Taipei, Shih-Ying Publishing, 2005.01, p.
176.