Chen says his arrest is part of a campaign against him and his family by the current president [Reuters]

The former president, who left office earlier this year, has been accused of money laundering and illegally using a presidential fund during his eight years in office - allegations he says have been trumped up by his successor.

He has not been officially charged in the case and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Chen's lawyer told reporters on Thursday that he was determined to go ahead with the hunger strike indefinitely, "to protest the death of justice and the regression of democracy."

Chen says the allegations against him are part of a campaign of persecution by Taiwan's current president, Ma Ying-jeou, who he says is trying to placate the Chinese government in Beijing.

Independence advocate

The former president is a strong advocate of Taiwanese independence and frequently crossed swords with Beijing over the issue during his time in office.

He opposes Ma's policy of forging closer ties with the mainland, from which Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

Ma swept to victory in March elections, partly on a promise to expand economic ties with China and begin a political dialogue aimed at ending nearly 60 years of tensions with the mainland.

However, analysts say long-standing corruption allegations against Chen, his family, and his associates contributed to Ma's victory.

Chen has been held at Tucheng jail in suburban Taipei since early Wednesday morning.

His detention followed a lengthy overnight court hearing which concluded there was enough evidence to hold him for up to four months to prevent him from colluding with alleged co-conspirators.

Nine other people, including a former vice premier and a former intelligence chief, are being held in connection with the same corruption allegations mounted against Chen.

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