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Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, left, and Defense Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, center, attend a ceremony with new army recruits at a military camp in Taichung in June.   © EPA/Jiji
Asia Insight

Taiwan turns to own 'Iron Duke' Wellington Koo to deter China

Civilian defense minister aims to sharpen asymmetric warfare capabilities

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer | Taiwan

TAIPEI -- At a ceremony for Taiwan's military academy, new Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung spoke bluntly about the danger he sees across the Taiwan Strait.

While Taipei "hasn't given up dialogue with China," Koo told hundreds of graduates, "the only one who does not accept the status quo of maintaining peace and stability and wants to push both sides of the Taiwan Strait to the brink of war is China, not Taiwan."

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