The National Defense Report of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 2009, warns of an ongoing military buildup across the Taiwan Strait, even amid warming cross-strait relations under President Ma Ying-jeou, who took office last year on vows to improve ties with China.

Published roughly once every two years, the document is considered Taiwan's defense white paper and is the Ma administration's first such report.

"China's annual defense budget is still growing by double-digit percentages, while it still has not reduced the more than 1,000 missiles that threaten Taiwan, much less renounced the use of force against (us)," the report states. "A miscalculation could trigger...a conflict at any time."

China deploys some 1,300 short-range ballistic and cruise missiles against Taiwan, according to the island's military. Besides deploying missiles, Beijing has trained up some 400,000 amphibious warfare troops in three southern "military regions" on the mainland near Taiwan, the report said.

"Currently, China's transport capabilities fall short of being able to transport troops and equipment in sufficient quantities," it said, adding, "Hence, making ample use of commercial and cargo vessels to wage unconventional amphibious warfare will become a special characteristic of the Chinese military's war plans against Taiwan."

Last year, Taiwan and China established direct cargo links across the Taiwan Strait as part of their agreement to ease their logistical estrangement.

The two sides have been separately governed since 1949, when the Chinese Nationalists retreated to Taiwan after losing a civil war on the mainland to the Chinese communists. Since the split, communist- ruled Beijing has claimed the self-ruled island as its own, to be unified, by force if necessary.

But Ma has ratcheted down cross-strait tensions by emphasizing economic and logistical links with China over championing the island's sovereignty.

Still, while bilateral relations turn a corner, China's military threat against the island continues to grow, according to the report.

"60-year tensions in the strait have been eased considerably...but China has not removed the threat it poses to Taiwan, and our national military must remain...on guard and continue strengthening our defenses and preparing for war," said Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu in a forward to the report.