China Open to Missile Discussions with Taiwan

From DefenseNews

China Says Open To Missile Discussions with Taiwan

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BEIJING

China on May 3 said it is willing to discuss its missile deployment with Taiwan if the island acknowledges it is part of China and abandons its pro-independence stance.

Vice minister of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party Central Committee Wang Zaixi told reporters that as long as Taiwan agrees with the “One China” policy, Beijing will be happy to negotiate missile issues.

“I think so long both sides sit down and talk on the basis of ‘One China’, any topic can be put on the table, including the missile issue,” Wang said. “On the basis of the ‘One China’ policy, the two sides can have priority talks on ways to put a formal end to the state of hostility across the straits.”

He was referring to a five-point consensus reached between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Lien Chan, chairman of Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT, or Nationalist party) during an eight-day visit that ended May 3.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, and has warned it would invade if the island moved towards formal independence.

Beijing reiterated it was prepared to use force to bring the island to heel but only after all other avenues are exhausted.

According to Taiwan, China’s People’s Liberation Army has 700 ballistic missiles deployed opposite the island, and the number is expected to reach at least 800 next year.

Unconfirmed Taiwan media reports also said Taiwan planned to mass produce supersonic anti-ship missiles to beef up the island’s defense capabilities against China.