Chen warns Asia of Chinese threat

"It is time for communication and cooperation, not for confrontation, not for coercion," Lu said.

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who gave the conference's closing speech, said it was China, not Taiwan, that had been provocative in cross-strait interactions.

"Taiwan should declare to the world that every act of provocation across the Taiwan Strait results from communist China's military expansion. There is no such thing as Taiwan's provocation of China," Lee said.

"To safeguard the independence and sovereignty of one's nation should not be seen as a provocative act to China. It's a legitimate move to protect Taiwan's national security," Lee said.

Lee said that Taiwan as a democratic, free and independent country has unsettled the authoritarian Chinese leadership, thus triggering China's military threats against Taiwan.

"If all Chinese people aspire to enjoy the political welfare that Taiwan has espoused, Chinese leaders would lose their power and position, their authoritarian regime would break into pieces," he said.

The veteran politician also said China, as a key producer and exporter of weapons of mass destruction, has cooperated militarily with what he termed "certain terrorist states" over the years.

"China's military expansion has not only posed a direct threat to Taiwan's national security, but also vindicated China's role as a potential destroyer of world peace," Lee said.