,
Taipei (AFP): Taiwan's independence-minded President Chen Shui-bian has accused China of “provoking” his government by targeting the island with nearly 1,000 missiles, stepping up the rhetoric against Beijing. In a wide-ranging interview with CNN broadcast at the weekend, Chen insisted that China had put Taiwan on the defensive with its provocative acts, rejecting Beijing's claims that he was to blame for cross-strait tensions.
“It is China that is provoking Taiwan,” Chen said.
“It passed the 'anti-secession law.' It never formally renounced the use of force against Taiwan. It has also begun to complete three-stage preparation work to invade Taiwan in the future.
“What this government, the people of Taiwan, and this administration have been doing is merely defending the sovereignty, dignity, and security of our country.”
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, awaiting reunification — by force if necessary — following a civil war that split them in 1949.
Chen said he was merely trying to maintain the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and hit out at China what he called a massive increase in the number of missiles pointing at the island to 988.
“Back in the year 2000, when I first became president, the missiles deployed along the southeastern coast of China were about 200 and now they are almost 1,000. They have increased almost by fivefold,” he told CNN.
Last week, Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed that Beijing had built up a huge arsenal of missiles facing Taiwan, up from 160 ballistic missiles in place in 1996.
“As of now the Chinese communists have stockpiled 880 ballistic missiles and more than 100 cruise missiles, placing the whole of Taiwan under their range,” Taiwan air force Major General Wang Cheng-hsiao told reporters.
“These missiles indeed pose a serious threat to Taiwan,” he said.
Taiwan has deployed three US-made Patriot anti-missile batteries to defend the densely populated greater Taipei area, and is seeking to purchase more to shield the entire island.
Chen also pledged to continue his drive for a new constitution and to join international bodies like the United Nations and World Health Organizations — goals strongly opposed by Beijing.
