Lien Chan, vice president in the former Nationalist government, raised the issue during a debate with President Chen Shui-bian ahead of the March 20 election.
Lien argued that Chen was fueling an arms race by advocating a provocative policy that was too offensive in nature. He said the president's plan was to paralyze China's coastal defenses and keep the decisive battle off Taiwan's shores.
"Our Nationalist Party supports a limited war. We'll use the Taiwan Strait to win the first round and that will give us time to hold talks" with China, Lien said.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 when the Communists took over the mainland. Beijing has repeatedly threatened to use force to make Taiwan unify.
Later in the debate, Chen pounced on Lien's strategy.
"Do you really have to let the war begin? Then after you fight, seek peace?" Chen asked. "To be a nation's leader, can you be so superficial, so naive?"
Chen, who often goes by the nickname "Ah-Bian," said that a leader must plan on negotiating before fighting a war, not vice versa.
"This is why Ah-Bian says you must protect your base, effectively block and counter, not let war happen, not let the first round happen," said Chen, who most polls say is running neck and neck with Lien.
Brinkmanship politics at its most nutty, and dangerous. Criminy.
