Larry Pressler: “According to the story, the People's Republic of China has finished plans for a limited missile attack on Taiwan--an…”

“According to the story, the People's Republic of China has finished plans for a limited missile attack on Taiwan--an attack that could come following Taiwan's first Presidential election, which is scheduled for March 23. This revelation is the latest in a series of intimidating tactics that work to threaten Taiwan and destabilize East Asia. Between July 21 and July 26, the PRC conducted a series of ballistic missile test firings 85 miles off the coast of Taiwan. All the missiles were modern, mobile and nuclear capable. No country ever has held this level of field tests for nuclear capable missiles before. The results of that action were predictable--the stock market and the local currency in Taiwan plunged. These ballistic missile exercises resumed on August 15, and continued through the fall leading up to last December's elections in Taiwan for the 164-seat Legislature. Now comes word that the PRC has done more than just test its military capability. It has matched its hardware testing with military planning--a plan that calls for one ballistic missile to be launched each day for 30 days. As was the case with the missile tests, this recent report can be seen as a blatant attempt to influence the outcome of the upcoming Presidential elections in Taiwan. There could be more to this story. I believe this is an attempt to intimidate the Clinton administration and test our Nation's resolve in the Taiwan Straits.”