China has called for talks with Taiwan on military issues in due course as the self-ruled island announced it was developing an unmanned surveillance aircraft. A foreign ministry spokesman Yang Yi said China advocates that both sides get in touch and exchange views on military issues, including military deployment in due course and in an appropriate manner.Yesterday Taiwan said it had started research on drones, which are remotely piloted and perform reconnaissance and attack missions, indicating that its arms race with China had not ended despite improving ties. China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still considers the self-ruled island part of its territory awaiting reunification.