Sat, Jan 08, 2000 page2

• Ex-military chief confirms nuclear weapons program

  SECRET RESEARCH The former chief of the general staff said at the launch of his new book that although Taiwan never detonated an atomic device, it has the knowledge to do so

  • By Brian Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  Former Premier Hao Pei-tsun (郝柏村), who was the most powerful man in Taiwan's military during the rule of the late President Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), yesterday revealed that Taiwan had long ago acquired the ability to produce nuclear weapons, without actually having launched any test explosions.

  "Following the success of [Taiwan's] nuclear program, President Chiang openly declared that Taiwan had become a nuclear-capable country, but that it would not bring the research results into production," Hao said, speaking to reporters at a book launch for his two-volume work published under the title of Eight-year's diary as the Chief of the General Staff.

  "We never conducted any nuclear tests. Our researchers at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) managed to simulate tests on a computer through data they had acquired on nuclear explosions."

  

  Former premier and chief of the general staff Hao Po-tsun autographs a copy of his new book yesterday.

  PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  "We are similar to Israel in this respect. Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. But there has never been any reports of nuclear tests conducted in that Middle East country," he said.

  Hao did not specify which year CSIST's nuclear program succeeded in its research, but it is believed to have been in the late 1970s or early 1980s -- before the US sent nuclear experts to Taiwan to deactivate nuclear reactors at CSIST in 1988.

  The US government was briefed on Taiwan's secret nuclear programs by a top CSIST researcher during his defection.

  Besides his comments on Taiwan's nuclear program, Hao also reminded the public of his contribution to the military and the country during his term as the head of the armed forces.

  "It was me who decided to buy F-16 and Mirage jet fighters, as well as second-generation fighting ships. Everybody now talks about second-generation weapons. Where did those weapons come from?" Hao said.

  As to the allegations of commission-taking during the purchase of these second-generation weapons -- especially the Lafayette-class frigates and Mirage aircraft -- Hao emphatically denied such activities took place.

  "The military imposed strict restrictions on agents involved in the arms deals. During my eight-year term as chief of the general staff, I did not find any irregularities in connection with those arms purchases," he said.

  Hao also harshly criticized the current military leadership, who he said "are tending to become more like politicians."

  "I am very concerned about this trend among military leaders. If they lead their troops [into battle] in the same manner, there could be very grave consequences," he warned.

  Asked by reporters about his response to a proposal by Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) to develop a long-range surface-to-surface missile, Hao said such a development would cost too much money and would be of little strategic value if such weapons were not armed with nuclear warheads.

  "I am not sure whether Lien consulted any military specialists before he made the proposal. From my knowledge as a serviceman, I think it would be meaningless to send such a missile thousands of kilometers deep into the mainland armed with only a conventional warhead," Hao said.

  "CSIST has the ability to develop and build a propulsion system for a missile with a range of thousands of kilometers. But we still need a nuclear warhead to make the weapon become cost-effective," he said.

  Meanwhile, Hao called on the public not to panic about reported Chinese military developments and exercises aimed at intimidating Taiwan.

  "China's targeting of short-range missiles on Taiwan is of no more serious consequence than the training of our own heavy artillery [on Kinmen Island] toward on the mainland's coastal provinces," Hao said.
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