Speaking to top government officials, President Chen Shui-bian said Taiwan will assist the mainland’s democratization so as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region.

Chen and his top staff gathered at a resort club in Sanchih, on the outskirts of Taipei, for a one-day strategic conference, the second of its kind in two weeks.

In his opening remarks, Chen said successful democratization is Taiwan’s greatest achievement. Democracy also presents the biggest source of conflict between Taiwan and the communist-ruled China mainland, Chen said.

Chen said that mainland China has continuously built up its missile deployment and conducted military exercises aimed at Taiwan, while the island has chosen to focus on democratization and economic development.

The mainland’s growing military power poses the biggest threat to Taiwan’s freedom, democracy and human rights, and demonstrates its ignorance of the universal values for all human kind, the president said.

Taiwan’s democratization has won support from foreign countries.

Chen said the European Parliament — the legislative arm of the 15-state European Union — just passed a resolution urging mainland China to dismantle its hundreds of ballistic missiles deployed against Taiwan along its southeastern coast and to gradually demilitarize the region.

“The resolution signifies the international community’s concern about the Taiwan Strait situation and its opposition to mainland China’s constant saber-rattling against Taiwan, “ Chen said.

Chen added only when mainland China renounces the use of force against Taiwan and seeks peaceful, rational dialogue with Taiwan can peace and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region be possible.

Yesterday’s meeting came ahead of the first anniversary of the terror attacks against the U.S. on Sept. 11, during which thousands were killed, including nine people from Taiwan.

With progress in technology, Chen went on, types of warfare have changed significantly. “War is now not confined to fighting on the battlefield, “ he said. “It can take place in the form of the 9-11-style terrorist attacks, disruption of information systems, public order and financial systems, and economic sabotage,” he said.

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As the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have shed new light on security threats to the international community, Chen said, Taiwan should not absent itself from the ongoing global anti-terrorist campaign.

The president asserted that “only actively pursuing peace by fighting against terrorism can democracy be sustained.”

Ironically, Taiwan, widely applauded as the model of democracy for Asia, has not received a formal invitation for the memorial service.

There were reports that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided to invite Taiwan for the event, but will not let Taiwan representatives sit next to other participants from the United Nations. Such an arrangement is designed to show Washington’s support for the “one China” principle, according to the Chinese-language media reports.

While Katharine Chang, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said Taiwan will not be too fussy about the arrangements and will be a guest welcomed by everybody, the government insisted that Taiwan does not deserve such secondary treatment.

Foreign Minister Eugene Chien said Taiwan will try all means to get a fairer arrangement.

Commenting on a possible outbreak of war between the U.S. and Iraq, Chiou I-jen, National Security Council’s secretary general, said the island has sufficient energy stockpiled for any emergency.

Taiwan has taken a series of measures to ensure adequate energy supplies since Sept. 11 last year, said Chiou. Chiou would not disclose any details about his secret trip to Thailand last week.