"On behalf of my countrymen, I hereby want to promise to you that Taiwan will by no means develop, introduce nor use nuclear weapons," Chen said in a speech to members of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club. "Please feel at ease."

But the independence-leaning president, repeating his charge that hundreds of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles are pointed at Taiwan, said the military needed to do more to protect the island.

"Taiwan is not engaging in an arms race with the Chinese communists, but we must step up our self-defence capabilities," he said. "Taiwan's current defences and 300,000 soldiers are not sufficient to defend ourselves."

"According to military reports from the United States and Japan, the military balance across the strait is tipping towards Beijing," he added.

Chen's comments came after an opposition lawmaker accused the government of quietly developing nuclear warheads that could be carried by the island's first home-developed cruise missile, the Hsiungfeng 2E.

Analysts say the Hsiungfeng 2E has a range of at least 600 kilometres (375 miles), meaning it could reach airports and missile bases in southeast China, as well as cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The defence ministry had planned to unveil the missile at the National Day parade earlier this month, but dropped the plan following reported pressure from Washington, Taipei's main ally.

In an apparent gesture to assure Washington that Taipei would not take provocative steps towards Beijing, Chen said the missile is "defensive and tactical" in nature and that "it will by no means be used to strike civilian targets."

Chen also guaranteed that "Taiwan would communicate with the United States before any use of such weaponry."

Relations between Taipei and Beijing, which considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification, were strained further when Chen snubbed a peace overture made by Chinese President Hu Jintao recently.

Relations have also been strained over the Taipei government's controversial bid to seek a seat in the United Nations.

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