Taiwan, China militaries to meet

The report in the Chinese-language United Daily News said that the militaries will take part in a workshop on regional security and crisis management under the auspices of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, a think tank with links to the U.S. Pacific Command.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry would not comment on the report.

The newspaper said other militaries will also participate in the workshop, but it did not say whose.

Relations between Taiwan and China have improved rapidly under President Ma Ying-jeou, a strong advocate of closer economic and political ties between the sides.

Ma came to office last May, replacing Chen Shui-bian, who was reviled by Beijing for his pro-independence views - anathema to the mainland's contention that Taiwan is part of its territory.

In a related report Monday, another Taiwanese newspaper said a retired officer with 20 years of military service has been accused of leaking documents about war plans and other military secrets to Beijing.

The report in the Chinese-language Liberty Times said the officer, identified only by his surname Chang, has taken up residence in China after leaking secrets including troop deployment plans to be used in the event of a war.

It said Chang is afraid to return to Taiwan.

A Defense Ministry official confirmed that Chang was under investigation but refused to elaborate.

Despite their rapidly improving relations Taiwan and China routinely spy on each other and remain keenly interested in obtaining sensitive defense information from the other side.

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