TAIPEI (AFP) – China plans a “military showdown” with Taiwan in less than a decade, the island’s President Chen Shui-bian said.

Rejecting an opposition call to resume talks with Beijing based on earlier guidelines, Chen said it is not he but Chinese leaders who have tried to alter the status quo in the Strait by stockpiling weaponry targeting Taiwan.

“The number of ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan has topped 787 from 200 seen in the year 2000,” the independence-leaning president, who took office that year, told opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou during a nationally televised two-hour meeting.

The number is increasing by 100-120 per year, he said.

“Is this goodwill or part of its preparations for invading Taiwan? We must not turn a blind eye to this development,” Chen told Ma, who favours the resumption of talks with China.

“They have come up with a three-stage timeframe of using force against Taiwan,” Chen said in the meeting with Ma, head of the Kuomintang (KMT, or Nationalist) party.

“They plan to beef up their emergency warfare capabilities by 2007, and large-scale warfare capabilities against Taiwan by 2010 and capabilities to have a military showdown with Taiwan by 2015, according to the information we have collected.”

Therefore, while dealing with Beijing, the risk of hostilities must be taken into consideration, Chen said.

Ma is seen as the front-runner in the 2008 presidential polls while Chen cannot seek a third term.

Chen also rejected Ma’s recommendation that his government hold rapprochement talks with Beijing based on 1992 guidelines on the “one-China” principle.

“It would be problematic to regard this, which does not exist at all, as the basis of talks,” he said.

At a 1992 meeting in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan each agreed on their own interpretation of the “one-China principle” so talks could go ahead.

Chen suggested that former KMT chairman Lien Chan raise the so-called “1992 consensus” while meeting China’s President Hu Jintao later this month.

If Hu confirmed the consensus or allowed Taiwan to keep its interpretation of “one China,” Chen said he would also abide by the consensus and hold the peace talks as Ma proposed.

The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war but China regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Ma had requested the meeting with Chen after returning from a high-profile trip to the United States last month. In an unusually warm reception he met US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, the highest level contact between Taiwan and the United States in years.

Washington was angered by Chen’s decision last month to disband a council dealing with the politically tricky question of uniting with China. It saw the move was an unnecessary provocation of the mainland.

The United States has also shown some frustration at Taiwan’s failure to conclude a huge US arms deal.

Chen’s government initially sought parliament’s approval for a 19-billion US dollar arms purchase over 15 years, but has since scaled back the amount under pressure from the KMT and other opposition parties.

The latest version calls for the purchase of eight conventional submarines, 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft and six PAC-3 Patriot anti-missile systems at a cost of 10.6 billion dollars.

Some opposition lawmakers say Taiwan cannot afford the arms deal. Others say the equipment would be delivered too slowly to enable the island to keep pace with China’s military build-up. END

BEIJING (Reuters) – Virtual carnations, memorial messages and tribute songs are some of the online services available to China’s Web surfers too busy on Wednesday to pay proper respects at the graves of their ancestors.

As China passes Tomb Sweeping Day — a traditional festival where people pray, offer food and burn paper money at relatives’ graves — authorities are urging people to care for the environment and honor relatives online instead, Xinhua news agency said.

Several cemeteries and funeral companies in China have heeded the call, establishing online memorial halls promising access to relatives within seconds, 365 days a year.

Shanghai Funeral Service Center claims to have had 40 million visits from respectful relatives grateful to pay respects at the click of a mouse since the service was introduced in 2001.

The Qing Ming festival is a public holiday in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and members of China’s parliament have urged the government to reintroduce the holiday after it was scrapped in 1949 when the atheists Communists swept to power.

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Taipei, the political and financial center of Taiwan, is the island’s most populous city. Taipei originated as a small trading port over two hundred years ago before becoming the administrative capital under the Qing Dynasty. During the last few decades there has been tremendous growth in the city. Now a sprawling metropolis, Taipei is an ideal place to visit for those who love the hustle and bustle of the big city. Bei Tou (Peitou) Located in the northwest area of Taipei, Bei Tou is famous for its sulfur springs, spas and hotels. One of the more popular sulfur pits is Hell Valley. Bei Tou is in the middle of a small mountain range connected to Yang Ming Shan by public transport. Yang Ming Shan National Park is a great place to go hiking.

Shi Lin The Shi Lin district covers both banks of the Keelung River and spills into the surrounding mountains. Shi Lin is best known for Shihlin Night Market, Taipei’s largest night market. North of the market is the peaceful Tian Mu area which features a large expatriate community and several of Taipei’s international schools. The Chinese Culture and Movie Center and the world-renowned National Palace Museum are also located within this district.

Da Tong Da Tong District was once home to European merchants who settled to trade with the Taiwanese. Walk through its old lanes and you will find numerous tea companies, a few European-style buildings and several temples including the famous Confucius Temple and Bao An Temple. Perhaps the most popular attraction here is Di Hua Street, one of Taipei’s main trading centers during the 1800s. Today, the street is still lined with traditional shops selling dried goods and herbal medicines. Zhong ShanXing Tian Temple and the Taipei Children’s Recreation Center. Running through the center of the district is Zhong Shan North Road, which divides the city into east and west. Zhong Shan was once the commercial center for Taipei, but now it is better known for its shops and bars. The area also has the dubious honor of being one of the major red light districts. The area also has several cultural offerings including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Lin An Tai House, the Grand Hotel,

Song Shan Home to Taipei’s central business district and many company headquarters, this is one of the city’s most international districts. Numerous foreign restaurants are on the streets and alleys off Dun Hua North Road and Min Sheng East Road. To the north, the Sungshan Domestic Airport provides a gateway to Taiwan’s major cities and outlying islands. In addition, the Magnolia Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe, the Taipei Municipal Stadium and the Asiaworld Shopping Center are also located on Dun Hua North Road.

Wan Hua The oldest district in Taipei, Wan Hua was once a thriving port. Located on the Dan Shui River, this area was built up by merchants from Mainland China. Religion played a major role in the lives of these Chinese settlers who constructed numerous temples in the area. Present day temples in the Wan Hua District include the Lungshan Temple (Taipei’s oldest temple), Ching Shui Yan Temple, and Ching Shan Temple. Other main attractions in this area are the popular Xi Men Ding shopping and movie district, Hua Xi Street (better known as Snake Alley), and Taipei’s Youth Park.

Zhong Zheng The political center of Taipei City, the Zhong Zheng District is home to numerous government offices, parks and museums. The 2-28 Memorial Peace Park, Taiwan Provincial Museum, Botanical Gardens, and the Presidential Building are all located in Zhong Zheng. Perhaps best known is the massive Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall which also houses the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

Da An Da An District, located in downtown Taipei, is a mix of residential and commercial buildings. Zhong Xiao East Road, Section 4 is the most popular shopping strip in Da An, with numerous boutiques and coffee shops as well as Sogo Department Store. The Da An District also has a thriving nightlife with many restaurants, bars and clubs.

Xin Yi Mainly a residential and commercial district, Xin Yi is home to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei World Trade Center, Mitsukoshi and New York, New York department stores, and the new Warner Village movie complex. Over the last 100 years, Taipei City has been expanding eastwards towards the mountains and the Xin Yi District marks a new era of the city’s development. Nei Hu, Wen Shan, Nan Gang These three districts are less populated than the city center and are great places to get away from the city. Nei Hou is popular with hikers and nature lovers. It is also possible to see some traditional culture by hiking up to Pi Shan Temple. Wen Shan is best known for the numerous tea houses dotting the hills in the Mu Cha area. However, the district also houses the Taipei City Zoo and the Chang Shan Temple. Primarily an industrial area, Nan Gang is home to Academia Sinica, the leading academic research institute in Taiwan.

Surrounding areas- Dan Shui, Keelung, Wu Lai North of Taipei is the old fishing village of Dan Shui. Once a main port, Dan Shui is where the Spanish landed when they arrived in Taiwan. Fort San Domingo is one of the few remaining relics from this period of Taiwanese history. Traveling east along the coastal highway will lead you to the seaport of Keelung. Well known for its food and numerous temples, many Taipei residents head to Keelung on the weekends for a change of scenery and a meal at its famous night market. Just south of Taipei is the mountain village of Wu Lai, home to a large indigenous population of Ataya. end