US cancels simulated joint military drill with Taiwan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 05, 2003

US cancels simulated joint military drill with Taiwan

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To avoid sending wrong message at a critical moment, the United States has decided to cancel Taiwan "vice-defense minister" Lin Chung-pin's scheduled visit to the Pacific command headquarters of the US army, as well as a computer simulated military drill between the two sides, according to US sources.

Lin had planned to stay in New York and Washington, visit Hawaii on his way home and attend a joint military drill on computers at the Pacific headquarters, Phoenix quoted Taiwan media as saying.

A military drill on computers conducted together with Taiwan senior defense officials may cause misinterpretation when the Taiwan authorities are actively pushing forward their "referendum", US sources said. The Taiwan side may believe that the United States would send troops to help if conflicts arise across the Straits, whatever the circumstances would be. So to avoid sending a wrong message the United States called off Lin's Hawaii tour.

By PD Online staff Li Heng

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