Taiwan plans 'missile' referendum

By Chris Hogg BBC correspondent in Hong Kong

Mr Chen says China poses a threat to Taiwan

Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian plans a referendum asking voters to demand that missiles aimed at the island from mainland China be removed, reports say.

His spokesman has been quoted as confirming that the missile threat will be the subject of a vote planned for 20 March next year.

Mr Chen signalled his intention to hold a so-called "defensive referendum" in talks with US politicians last week.

The date coincides with Taiwan's polls to elect a new president.

'Dangerous provocation'

The law was changed last month to allow Taiwan's president to hold a referendum if the island is under threat.

It is a controversial issue.

Mainland China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has always warned that any move towards independence would be countered with force.

But President Chen, who is fighting a campaign for re-election, has signalled his intention to call the vote in order, he says, to persuade his people of the threat posed by China.

Taiwan says almost 500 missiles on the mainland are aimed at its territory.

The president insists the vote will not lead to a change in the island's sovereignty or status, but that assurance has not satisfied Beijing.

China's official news agency has already declared that his proposals are an extremely dangerous provocation.

On Saturday, in the latest twist to this row, a presidential spokesman was quoted as saying that the referendum could be called off if China redeployed its missiles and renounced the use of force against the island.

However, for the vote to be to take place, the president would have to secure the backing of the country's parliament and that is by no means guaranteed.