Taiwan’s Red Alert

China has regarded Taiwan as a rebel province since the Nationalists fled there in 1949 after losing to the Communists in a mainland civil war. It accuses Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, who is expected to win another term Saturday, of discarding the shared goal of reunification. The Chinese war games and missile tests that started earlier this month have pushed tensions to their worst point since the 1950s.

BEHIND THE LATEST TENSIONS

* June 7-10, 1995: President Lee Teng-hui visits United States. China sees trip as plot to promote independence.

* June 16: China postpones high-level talks with Taiwan.

* July 21-26: China fires missiles 85 miles north of Taiwan.

* Feb. 12, 1996: Taiwan says China massing 150,000 troops for large-scale exercises across from Taiwan.

* March 8: China launches first test missiles at target zones near Taiwan.

* March 9: China’s army announces plans for live-fire naval and air force exercises, which begin three days later.

* March 10: United States says it has ordered ships to the area to monitor tensions.

* March 12: Chinese war games begin, involving 10 ships and 10 aircraft.

THEIR MILITARIES

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Taiwan China Military spending $9.9 billion $28 billion-plus Troop strength 366,000 2,930,000 Reservists 1,657,500 1,200,000 Intercontinental missiles 0 17 Medium-range missiles 0 70-plus Fighter/attack aircraft 365 4,400 Bombers 0 420 Submarines 4 52 Destroyers/frigates 38 50

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THE PEOPLE

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Taiwan China Population 21.5 million 1.2 billion Life expectancy 72 male, 67 male 79 female 69 female Literacy rate 93% 78% Inflation 4% 22% Work force * Agricultural 16% 60% * Industrial 53% 25% * Services 22% 15% Exports $93 billion $92 billion Imports $85 billion $104 billion Share of imports from U.S. 22% 11% Share of exports to U.S. 28% 10%

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TAIWANESE-BORN CALIFORNIANS

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CITY TAIWANESE TOTAL Los Angeles 7,268 3.5 million San Jose 7,039 782,248 San Francisco 3,127 723,929 Alhambra 4,035 82,106 Monterey Park 3,524 60,738 Arcadia 3,567 48,290 Hacienda Heights 3,302 52,354

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U.S. CONNECTION

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Taiwan China Visitors from U.S. in 1994 286,000 470,000 Visitors to the U.S. in 1994 424,000 NA

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Sources: Europa World Book, World Almanac, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Associated Press, Pacific Asia Travel Assn.

Researched by PETER JOHNSON / Los Angeles Times