Bluezoo
08-03-2005, 02:35 PM
Taiwan in Military Drill Simulating Chinese Blockade
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TAIPEI
Taiwan on August 3 held a military drill simulating a military blockade of two southern harbors, officials said.
In the exercise off a major naval base in southern Tsoying city, U.S.-built and French-built warships mobilized along with F-16 jet fighters.
Under the drill’s scenario, “the Chinese communists launched a surprise attack and blocked the southern Tsoying and Kaohsiung harbors in an attempt to cut off Taiwan’s external trade and transportation and therefore force Taiwan into negotiations for reunification,” a defense official said.
The Taiwan navy also hunted mock Chinese submarines trying to block the two harbors.
The maneuvers followed a U.S. Pentagon report that last month said China is building up its military at a pace that is tipping the balance against Taiwan and could pose a credible threat to other armies in the region.
According to the report, should war break out in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing might try to disrupt Taiwan’s sea trade but the Chinese navy still lacks the means to sustain and enforce a conventional naval blockade.
China could unleash a campaign involving computer network attacks, sabotage by special forces and strikes on key military or political sites with short-range missiles or warplanes, it said.
Another option cited was a surprise attack using short-range missiles and precision air strikes to “decapitate” Taiwan’s political and military leadership before the United States or other countries could intervene.
China has deployed up to 730 ballistic missiles along its southeastern coast opposite the island, which it regards as part of its territory, the report said.
Relations between China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, have worsened since independence-leaning Chen Shui-bian was elected president in 2000, ending the nationalist Kuomintang’s 51-year rule. He was re-elected last year.
China has vowed to attack Taiwan....
For the full text, go to:
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=1008377&C=asiapac
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TAIPEI
Taiwan on August 3 held a military drill simulating a military blockade of two southern harbors, officials said.
In the exercise off a major naval base in southern Tsoying city, U.S.-built and French-built warships mobilized along with F-16 jet fighters.
Under the drill’s scenario, “the Chinese communists launched a surprise attack and blocked the southern Tsoying and Kaohsiung harbors in an attempt to cut off Taiwan’s external trade and transportation and therefore force Taiwan into negotiations for reunification,” a defense official said.
The Taiwan navy also hunted mock Chinese submarines trying to block the two harbors.
The maneuvers followed a U.S. Pentagon report that last month said China is building up its military at a pace that is tipping the balance against Taiwan and could pose a credible threat to other armies in the region.
According to the report, should war break out in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing might try to disrupt Taiwan’s sea trade but the Chinese navy still lacks the means to sustain and enforce a conventional naval blockade.
China could unleash a campaign involving computer network attacks, sabotage by special forces and strikes on key military or political sites with short-range missiles or warplanes, it said.
Another option cited was a surprise attack using short-range missiles and precision air strikes to “decapitate” Taiwan’s political and military leadership before the United States or other countries could intervene.
China has deployed up to 730 ballistic missiles along its southeastern coast opposite the island, which it regards as part of its territory, the report said.
Relations between China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, have worsened since independence-leaning Chen Shui-bian was elected president in 2000, ending the nationalist Kuomintang’s 51-year rule. He was re-elected last year.
China has vowed to attack Taiwan....
For the full text, go to:
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=1008377&C=asiapac