Vice minister of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party Central Committee Wang Zaixi told reporters that as long as Taiwan agreed with the "One China" policy, Beijing would be happy to negotiate missile issues.

"I think so long both sides sit down and talk on the basis of 'One China', any topic can be put on the table, including the missile issue," Wang said.

"On the basis of the 'One China' policy, the two sides can have priority talks on ways to put a formal end to the state of hostility across the straits," he said.

He was referring to a five-point consensus reached between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Lien Chan, chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT, or Nationalist party) during his eight-day visit which ended Tuesday.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, and has warned it would invade if the island moved towards formal independence.

Beijing reiterated it was prepared to use force to bring the island to heel but only after all other avenues are exhausted.

According to Taiwan, China's People's Liberation Army has 700 ballistic missiles deployed opposite the island, and the number is expected to reach at least 800 next year.

Unconfirmed Taiwan media reports also said Taiwan planned to mass produce supersonic anti-ship missiles to beef up the island's defense capabilities against China.

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