Mocking Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Wu made the remarks in a speech to more than 150 overseas Taiwanese delegates attending a conference held at the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei. The event was hosted by the Global Alliance for Democracy and Peace, a government-led organization that promotes Taiwan's interests abroad.
Citing the National Security Council and unnamed sources in the US intelligence community, Wu said that China now has more than 900 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan deployed at five bases in Fujian Province, as well as 11 military satellites in orbit.
"I'm very moved by your calling on China to remove the missiles on its eastern seaboard," Wu said, referring to a statement that the alliance issued on Wednesday demanding that China cease targeting Taiwan with 820 missiles.
"But that's not enough," Wu said, adding that many of the missiles were deployed on mobile launchers.
"If China one day removed the missiles from its east coast, they could just transport them all back the next day," he said.
China has made leaps in the development of its cruise missile technology, and was racing to beef up its military while Taiwan's military saw little or no growth, Wu said.
"China's acquisition of long-range bombers and mid-air refuelers from Russia means that it seeks to project its military power beyond Taiwan, because Chinese fighter jets wouldn't need to refuel mid-air in a cross-strait attack. Taiwan is so close that it doesn't need such resources," he said, adding that Taiwan was a "stumbling block to projecting power" throughout Asia for China, and was thus a prime target.
Panning China's diplomatic behavior, Wu said that "100 percent of Sudan's oil goes to China, while the Sudanese government backs genocide in its Darfur region."
He described China-Sudan relations as "chummy."
"As the African summit in Beijing winds down, let's not forget that China is behind all the worst governments in Africa," Wu said, adding that Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe used Chinese firearms and artillery to "slaughter" Zimbabweans.
Wu also lashed out at the US for "mistaking" Taiwan's democratization as moves toward independence. He added that the government's efforts to amend the constitution, hold referendums, or otherwise promote democratic development had resulted in pressure from Beijing "and even the US."
As for cross-strait relations, Wu claimed the government was eager to open up the country to Chinese tourists because it wished to show the Chinese public that "Taiwan isn't at all how the Chinese media has depicted it."
Wu blamed the Chinese government for holding up negotiations on cross-strait tourism, but added that "some progress in opening ourselves up to China for tourism will happen very soon."
President Chen Shui-bian (
In his speech, Chen slammed China for threatening the country with its huge and growing military.
"Despite China's impressive economic rise, it has become more authoritarian, posing a grave threat to our sovereignty and abusing human rights like never before," Chen told a packed audience.
Chen also praised the alliance for promoting democracy abroad in Taiwan's name, saying that its peaceful, constructive activities stood in stark contrast to China's military buildup and hegemony.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old