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TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S president Tuesday accused China of attempting to change the status quo in the Strait by stockpiling more than 1,000 missiles, stepping up the rhetoric against Beijing.
'Over the past seven-plus years, the number of tactical ballistic missiles deployed by China on its side of the Taiwan Strait has increased from 200 in 2000 to today's 1,328, by our accounting,' Chen Shui Bian said in his New Year address.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it is prepared to use force if the island declares formal independence. The two split in 1949 after a civil war.
President Chen, of the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), also called attention to Beijing's recent moves to designate an 'air defence identification zone' in the Taiwan Strait and open a new civil air route along the median of the Taiwan Strait.
'In doing so, China is once again challenging and attempting to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait,' he said.
'Faced with China's belligerent rhetoric and military intimidation, the people of Taiwan have no choice but to become more strongly united. United, we need not fear the enemy's 'united front warfare' and divisive tactics.'
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. -- AFP
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