The Chinese government said in an annual defense policy report issued Monday that ties with Taiwan were "grim" and vowed that it would accelerate military modernization, the <i>New York Times</i> reported Tuesday.
"The Taiwan authorities under Chen Shui-bian have recklessly challenged the status quo," said the Chinese Defense Ministry's white paper for 2004, referring to Taiwan's president, who has pushed for formal acceptance of Taiwan's separate status from mainland China.
"China is determined to safeguard its national sovereignty and security, no matter how the international situation may evolve, and what difficulties it may encounter."
Earlier this month, China announced it would hold joint military operations with Russia next year, the first time the two countries will have held such exercises.
