Taiwan plans mass letter writing

Taiwan feels intimidated by its neighbour's military force

By Michael Bristow In Taipei

Taiwan's Government is to launch a letter-writing campaign in an attempt to force China to get rid of hundreds of missiles pointing at the island.

Officials want Taiwan's entire population to write to influential people abroad asking them to put pressure on China.

Taiwan feels permanently threatened by its giant neighbour China which wants the tiny island to reunify with the mainland.

	1949: Chinese Nationalists flee to Taiwan as People's Republic of China declared 1979: China-US diplomatic ties established after Washington switches recognition from Taipei 2000: Chen Shui-bian elected Taiwan president. Beijing threatens to attack if island attempts to secede 2001: Taipei lifts ban on direct trade and investment with China 2002: Taiwan warns China is boosting military spending and losing patience over peaceful reunification Q&A Taiwan's relations with China

Beijing says it will use force if the island even moves towards independence, and, according to Taiwan's foreign ministry, China has around 400 missiles directed at the island from across the Taiwan Strait to back up its threats.

Beijing also tries to isolate the island on the diplomatic front, and so Taipei has few opportunities to protest against this treatment.

So, in an effort to get others to put pressure on China, island officials have come up with the idea of a letter-writing campaign.

The government wants all of the island's 23 million citizens to write to influential leaders around the world, particularly in the US, asking them to persuade China to get rid of the missiles.

Three big rallies will take place across Taiwan over the next few weeks to publicise the campaign, and the government may even give letter-writers special note-paper to use, with a peace slogan written across the top.

Taiwanese officials are hoping, in this case, the pen will prove to be mightier than the sword

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