The number of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan has increased to roughly 1,500, an official in Taipei told Agence France-Presse yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 6).
Among the weapons faced by Taiwan are short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, according to the Defense Ministry spokesman.
Taipei estimated in its National Defense Report for 2008 that China had 1,300 missiles targeting Taiwan. The 2009 defense report was expected to be released today.
"The number of missiles has been rising," the spokesman said. "We don't know when it will stop increasing."
While China and Taiwan have separate governments, the mainland power has never relinquished its claim on the island and has threatened to use force in the event of an attempted breakaway.
Tensions have dropped since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who has a more favorable view toward Beijing, assumed power last year.
However, Ma has regularly stated that China's missiles stand in the way of better ties.
"I have said many times in the past, before and after my inauguration, that if we are to negotiate a peace agreement with the mainland including military confidence-building measures, they should remove or dismantle the more than 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan," Ma said last May (Agence-France Presse/Defense Talk, Oct. 19).