FACTBOX: Key facts on China-Taiwan relations

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou urged China on Monday to scrap the growing number of missiles aimed at the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own.

Following are key facts on ties between Taiwan and China:

POLITICS

* China has claimed Taiwan through its "one China" policy since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has vowed to bring the island under mainland rule, by force if necessary.

* China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has about 170 diplomatic allies. Taiwan has 23.

* Ties were badly strained when Chen Shui-bian from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was Taiwan president from 2000-2008 because of his independence rhetoric.

* Relations warmed after Ma, from the China-friendly Nationalist Party (KMT), took office in May 2008.

TRADE

* China, including Hong Kong, is Taiwan's top trading partner, with trade on both sides totaling $130 billion in 2008, official data from Taiwan showed. About 40 percent of Taiwan's exports, such as tech components and chemicals, go to China.

* China, with its 1.3 billion people, is also Taiwan's favorite investment destination with Taiwanese companies investing over $100 billion there, private estimates show.

* Nearly half of Taiwan's export orders are made in factories overseas, such as China.

INVESTMENT

* Taiwan and China could begin formal talks on a free trade agreement-like deal called the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement next month. Analysts expect the deal, which will broadly cut tariffs, to be signed next year.

* Markets have been widely expecting Taiwan and China to sign a financial pact later this year. Taiwan said this month the deal would exclude direct banking investments and would only cover financial supervision and information exchange in the banking, insurance and brokerage sectors.

* Taiwan has opened up 100 sectors, such as auto parts, textiles and some low-end electronics industries, to Chinese investment. Sensitive foundry and LCD sectors remain off limits.

* Late last year, Taiwan and China signed a deal on daily direct flights, new cargo routes and food safety. The agreement was aimed at increasing trade and tourism

MILITARY

* The military balance is shifting in China's favor. China's armed forces are 2.3 million strong while Taiwan has nearly 280,000 personnel in its army.

* China has an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 missiles aimed at the island, according to the Taiwan government.

* The United States is obliged to help Taiwan with its defense in the event of an attack under the U.S. Congress 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

* China has more than 2,000 fighter aircraft, including Russian Su-30 and Su-27 fighters. Taiwan has about 400 fighter aircraft and the backbone of its air force is made up of U.S.-made F-16s, French-built Mirage 2000s and Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters.

Sources: Reuters, Taiwan government, GlobalSecurity.org

(Reporting by the Taipei bureau, Editing by Dean Yates)