The figure includes short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, the defence ministry spokesman told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"The number of missiles has been rising. We don't know when it will stop increasing," said the spokesman.
He was speaking ahead of the release Tuesday of the ministry's annual report, which will include an updated estimate of China's military capabilities.
In its National Defence Report for 2008, the Taiwan government estimated that China had deployed 1,300 missiles in the area near the island.
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Taiwan, China to meet in December to hold economic talks
TAIPEI - TAIWAN and China, former Cold War foes that are now seeing an unprecedented thaw in relations, plan to hold talks on economic issues in December, the government here said Wednesday.
The meeting, the fourth of its kind, will take place in the central Taiwan city of Taichung, said Mr Liu Teh-shun, spokesman for the Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top agency responsible for China policy making.
Mr Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of Taiwan's quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), which is in charge of talks in the absence of formal ties with the mainland, will meet his Chinese counterpart Chen Yunlin, Mr Liu said.
When Mr Chen visited Taiwan last year, his presence triggered violent protests in the streets of Taipei, organised by advocates of independence from China.
'The two sides will continue ironing out differences... so that the meeting can be held as scheduled,' Mr Liu said.
The negotiations will centre on four topics, including avoidance of double taxation, agricultural products inspection, fisheries cooperation and industry standards certification. -- AFP
