They have been alarmed at suggestions that a mobile regional missile system, based on American ships, would be used to protect Taiwan.

And any system protecting Taiwan would have to be crafted to neutralize those Chinese missiles.

Ever since, the United States has either promised or hinted that it would protect Taiwan from a mainland Chinese attack.

Zhang suggested that huge loans be taken from Britain, who would in turn use its strong navy to protect Taiwan.

There is no easy way to protect Taiwan from China's missile threat.

But until unification, he says he would be willing to use American military power to protect Taiwan, provided it did not declare its independence from China.

The only other option would be a US Navy that can protect Taiwan from the predator.

The United States has vowed to protect Taiwan against an attack by China, which has 500 missiles pointed at the island.

If extended to Taiwan, as some in the Administration favor, it would be designed to protect Taiwan against missiles from China.

The system may be partly deployed at sea, and could easily be moved to protect Taiwan.