China buys weapons as Taiwan cautions

China has purchased 40 Su-30MK warplanes in a $1.8 billion deal

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's president has voiced concern at China's long-standing threats to use force against the island just as it emerged the mainland had ordered 40 top-range warplanes from Russia.

Against the background of an escalating arms race, Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian said China's insistence that it could use force to overwhelm what it regards as a renegade province was only causing the two sides to drift further apart.

In an apparent hardening of his stance against China, Chen Shui-bian appealed to Taiwan investors to put the island's interests before their own and to diversify investments away from China.

"If Communist China is willing to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, we will not change the status quo," said Chen, who has threatened to declare Taiwan independent if China attacks the democratic island of 23 million people.

"But regrettably, the authorities in Beijing are unable to understand the feelings of the Taiwan people and have repeatedly hurt our feelings," Chen said in a speech to the decision-making central executive committee of his independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Chen said military threats and diplomatic bullying would "only push the two sides further apart," Reuters news agency reported.

$1.8 billion arms sale

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Although China did not immediately respond to Chen's comments, its purchase of 40 Su-30MK warplanes in a $1.8 billion deal with Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport did nothing to water down speculation it was equipping its forces with Taiwan in mind.

China has been boosting its capacity to launch an invasion of the island while Taipei has bought advanced Western weaponry, mainly from the United States, to defend its self-rule, analysts say.

The new Su-30 sale adds further spice to reports that China has tested Russian AA-12 air-to-air missiles, which will boost the dog-fighting capabilities of the Chinese air force.

In response, Washington could sell Taiwan an advanced U.S. missile system for its 400-plus fighter fleet, which includes U.S. F-16s and French Mirage 2000s.

Peaceful solution

Ever since Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war, Beijing has threatened to bring the island back into its fold, by force if necessary.

"Taiwan has never belonged to the People's Republic of China. Beijing cannot force Taiwan people to accept any of its unilateral claims," Chen said.

Taiwanese president and chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, Chen Shui-bian, addresses a party meeting on Tuesday

"Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country called the Republic of China," Chen said, using the island's official title.

Last week, Nauru, one of Taiwan's few diplomatic allies, switched allegiance to recognize China, a move that riled Chen because it coincided with his appointment as DPP chairman.

Chen responded by saying Taipei might "take its own path" if Beijing does not respond to its goodwill.

China in turn accused Chen of risking war and damaging hopes of a peaceful solution.

Analysts say Chen appeared to be frustrated with an impasse in cross-strait ties and decided to take a harder line to force Beijing to the negotiating table, or at the very least to appease pro-independence supporters at home.

Beijing is deeply suspicious of Chen even though he has mellowed his pro-independence stance since taking office in May 2000. Chen has rejected Beijing's call that he embrace its "one China" policy in order for dialogue between the neighbours to resume.

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