President Chen Shui-bian made unusually strong pro-independence remarks Sunday March 4 in a message apparently aimed at provoking rival China and shoring up his base."Taiwan should be independent," Chen said to cheers at a banquet marking the 25th anniversary of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, a pro-independence group.
His comments also appear aimed at galvanizing his supporters ahead of legislative elections in December and next year's presidential election, as his party recovers from a series of alleged corruption scandals.
Hoping to beef up its defenses, Taiwan recently sought to buy 218 AMRAAM medium range air-to-air missiles and another 235 Maverick missiles from the U.S. for an estimated $421 million.
Beijing lashed out at the proposed arms sale, calling it a "rude interference into China's internal affairs." (Source: Min Lee, AP. Mar 4, 2007).