December 3, 2003 :: Taipei Times :: News
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian released more detailed information on the location and number of China’s short and medium range ballistic missiles positioned within range of the small island. According to Chen, China has deployed 96 missiles each in Leping and Ganxian of Jiangxi Province, Meizhou of Guangdong Province, as well as 144 in Yongan and 64 in Xianyou of Fujian Province.
These numbers slightly exceed those reported by the recent Department of Defense report, Chinese Military Power, which set the number at 450 and their rate of increase at 75 per year.
Chen’s release of information and warning of China’s “the ongoing threat to Taiwan” comes after a stern U.S. warning to Taiwan not to hold a referendum declaring independence from mainland Communist China. Some of Chen’s political opponents suggest the information release is being calculated to support such a referendum on sovereignty with the next presidential election, on March 20, 2004.
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