31.   The Defense Ministry refused to comment on the report, which said Taiwan was the first nation in Asia to have home-developed anti-missile defense capability.

32.   The question of beefing up defense capability is a sensitive one here, where the constitution bars Japanese forces from offensive military action and pacifist sentiment is common.

33.   These include equipping Malaysian troops with the latest long-range combat weapons to increase defense capabilities and mobility, he said.

34.   France hopes to help Qatar modernize its defense capability, in particular its air and naval forces.

35.   He cited the deployment of upgraded Patriot missiles to South Korea and Japan and the technical assistance agreement to provide Taiwan with theater missile defense capability.

36.   However, the departure of US forces has left the country without any external defense capability.

37.   But the highlight of the trip was to come later during the week at meetings with private contractors who might help Bosnia boost its defense capabilities.

38.   Davies said the defense department had already notified US Congress that it was preparing to sell Stinger missiles and other weapons to Taiwan to boost its defense capability.

39.   The Philippines has one of the most ill-equipped military forces in the region and has almost no external defense capabilities.

40.   The Taiwan government said Thursday current tension across the Taiwan Strait proved that the nationalist island must strengthen its defense capability.