Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian stressed Wednesday the importance of military cooperation between the United States and Japan in order to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.

He also lashed out at China's continued military buildup.

"China's military buildup and missile deployment not only targets Taiwan, but also Japan and the United States," Chen told Japanese lawmaker Yuriko Koike of the New Conservative Party, former Posts and Telecommunications Minister Seiko Noda of the Liberal Democratic Party, and five other Lower House members from the ruling and opposition parties.

"Maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region is the joint interest of Taiwan, the United States and Japan," he added.

This was Chen's first outburst against China's deployment of missiles on the coast opposite Taiwan since he assumed the presidency in May.

His statement comes in the wake of the debate launched by Japan's major opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, on whether Japan should do away with constitutional restrictions on collective defense.

It was also seen as an appeal to U.S. President-elect George W. Bush, who is widely hoped to take a tougher stance toward China and provide greater reassurance to Taiwan than departing U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Chen lauded Japanese economic aid to China as a "contribution to peace in the Asia-Pacific region," but also warned there was a "need for further discussion" should such aid be used for military purposes and missile deployment.

He said the people of Taiwan were grateful that Japan had adopted new defense guidelines for strengthened military cooperation with the United States and for "focusing on the areas surrounding Taiwan."

Chen also welcomed the fact that the reshuffled Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori includes 11 members of a pro-Taiwan parliamentary group and "three more who are quite friendly" toward Taiwan.