Taipei  - Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian, serving a life term for corruption, plans to release a CD to call for Taiwan's independence from China, his office said Wednesday.

"The single-song CD is entitled One Country on Each Side (of the Taiwan Strait). We are raising money so that we can release it in December," a staff member from Chen's office, who gave only her surname Chen, said.

"Chen Shui-bian wrote the lyrics. Composer Wang Ming-cheh wrote the music for the song," she added.

It was not clear if Chen will record the song himself.

The lyrics translate as: "Taiwan and China, one country on each side/ Taiwanese, oh Taiwanese, be brave and don't hesitate/ Seek independence, fight for the future, build a beautiful country."

Chen, 59, served two terms as president from 2000-08. On September 11 of last year, the Taipei District Court sentenced him to a life term on corruption charges, including embezzling state funds and money laundering.

Chen denied the charges and claimed he was persecuted by President Ma Ying-jeou's pro-China Chinese Nationalist Party for advocating Taiwan independence.

Since his detention last November, Chen has published two books to justify his fight for Taiwan independence: The Cross of Taiwan; and The Voice that Cannot be Chained. (dpa)