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China to Hold Military Drills off Dongshan Island: Report
Hong Kong media report the Chinese Liberation Army (PLA) has planned to launch a large-scale landing and joint-forces exercise -- Liberation I --- off Dongshan Island, Fujian Province in mid June.
The military exercise has been claimed the first and largest-ever since Chen Shui-bian's inauguration last May, demonstrating the central government's discontent with Chen refusing to embrace the 'One-China' principle, protest against US' arms sale to the island province and its determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The military drill will involve crack troops and sophisticated weapons like missile force, amphibious tank force, marine corps, submarines, modern destroyers and Su-27 fighters, according to a report by Chine News Service.
A senior official was quoted as saying that the military training exercise is aimed to warn Taiwan authorities not to play with fire. The report said that US President Bush's policy and attitude on issues like arms sale and surveillance plane have spoiled Taiwan authorities, making it to think that Chinese mainland would not render arm forces to solve the problem or risk a war with the US.
Hong Kong-based Wen Wai Po pointed out in an article that one of the aims of the military drills is to prevent 'Taiwan independence'.
FM confirms military exercisesChinese Foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi confirmed on Tuesday, June 5, that China's military forces were conducting drills on an island opposite Taiwan, but said they were routine and had no wider meaning.
"The People's Liberation Army is conducting military exercises on Dongshan island. These are normal, annual, routine training activities aimed at improving troops' exercise and combat capacity," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yixi said.
"Do not confuse it with other issues," Sun told a news conference.
By PD Online staff member Li Heng
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