Premier Wu Den-yih said Thursday that while seeking to improve cross-Taiwan Strait relations, the government will try to ensure it maintains strong enough forces to defend the sovereignty and safety of the nation. The premier was responding to remarks by People's Republic of China (PRC) President Hu Jintao earlier in the day in Beijing. In a speech delivered after reviewing troops in a parade in celebration of the PRC's 60th national day, Hu pledged to 'push forward the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait' amid a historic thaw between the two sides. 'We will continue to strive for the complete reunification of our motherland, which is the common aspiration of the Chinese nation,' Hu added. At a tea party for the press, Wu urged China to face the reality that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been under different jurisdictions since 1949. 'Only by doing so can a peaceful development of cross-strait relations be assured,' he said. Citing a proverb that says that 'any nation that does not face difficulties or enemies is doomed to fail, ' Wu said Taiwan must 'prepare for the worst (in dealing with China) ' at the same time that it tries to increase contacts. Since cross-strait tension has been greatly relieved, Wu said, both Taiwan and China should shelve those disputes that cannot be solved in a short period of time so as to create a 'win-win' situation between the two sides. Saying that Taiwan respects 'whatever forms of celebrations China chooses to mark its 60th national day, ' Wu added that while pursing closer ties with China, Taiwan will also try to enhance bilateral relations with the United States, Japan and other friendly nations. 