Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is dismissing a report published by the Wall
Street Journal that claimed that morale within Taiwan's armed forces is low
and it would be no match for China's military in the event on war.

The Wall Street Journal also claimed that Taiwan's military preparations for
a Chinese attack are inadequate.

The report cited the government's decision to downgrade the mandatory
two-year conscription system to a four-month training program for mostly
conscripts.

And it said that soldiers, strategists and government officials here in
Taiwan and the U-S are all saying the island's military internal problems,
"many of which have built up over years of calm and economic prosperity and
now are eating away at Taiwan's ability to deter China."

However, the defense minister says he has every confidence in Taiwan's
military and it remains unclear what the foreign media is basing its
evaluations on.

Defense ministry spokesman Major General Shih Shun-wen says the armed forces
continuously aims to strengthen its combat abilities and military
preparedness is an ongoing task.