Taiwanese president: peace with China, but arms for self-defence

Apr 30, 2010, 18:12 GMT

Taipei - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jou said Friday in an interview with CNN that Taiwan wants peace with China, but needs to buy modern weapons from the United States for self-defence.

Ma said Taipei-Beijing relations have greatly eased since he took office in 2008. But he reiterated that Taiwan must maintain independence and does not consider a 'one country, two models' system like Hong Kong's workable.

He also appealed to the US to supply modern weapons to Taiwan for self-defence.

'But we will not ask the US to fight a war for us,' he said.

Ma also voiced support for autonomy for Tibet and backed the Dalai Lama's moves to speak with China, 'because this is the only way to solve the Tibet issue.'

When asked if he will consider attending the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) leaders' summit, to be held in Hawaii, if he is invited, Ma called it a hypothetical question. 'In the past, Taiwan has been unable to send a high-level delegates to the summit. So I don't think it can be changed in the near future.'

China, which sees Taiwan as its breakaway province, has barred Taiwan's president from attending the APEC leaders' summit, allowing Taiwan to send only an economics official instead.

But as Beijing-Taipei ties have warmed, China has allowed Taiwan's former vice-president Lien Chan to attend the APEC summit.