Posted on 06/01/2004 9:23:24 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer
BEIJING, (AFP) - China is gearing-up for large-scale military wargames aimed at "taking control of the Taiwan Strait", with 18,000 troops and the amphibious landing of a tank brigade.
The exercises were to take place in June and July on Dongshan Island in southeastern Fujian province just 150 nautical miles west of Taiwan's Penghu Island, the New Express Daily said, citing a pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper.
China has become increasingly agitated with independence-leaning Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, and the report referred to the exercises as the first-ever aimed at "striving to control the Taiwan Strait."
The 18,000 soldiers will be deployed from the land, navy and air force of the Nanjing Military Region, where some 500 short-range ballistic missiles are pointed at Taiwan.
"Sukoi Su-27 fighter jets will be outfitted with KN59M guided air-to-surface missiles in an effort to maintain control over the Taiwan Strait and ensure that tank brigades can make a landing and engage in warfare," the report said.
Submarines, war ships and a guided missile brigade would also be involved in the exercises that were to be led by Lieutenant General Huang Jiang, it said.
Soldiers were deployed on Dongshan Island in mid-May where tanks and armoured personnel carriers had been practicing amphibious landings daily on Jinluan beach, it said. It was not clear if the exercises had already begun.
According to Hong Kong's Apple Daily, the exercises would be smaller than simliar drills held during the summer of 2001, when some 100,000 soldiers engaged in similar amphibious exercises and mock sea warfare aimed at sinking an aircraft carrier.
Since the re-election of Chen in March, and especially since his inaugural address on May 20, the mainland has racheted up the rhetoric on Taiwan, reiterating its long-standing vow to take the island by force should Chen move the territory towards formal independence.
Beijing has considered Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification since the end of the civil war in 1949.
Taiwanese defence officials said in April that Taiwan was conducting its own massive military exercises to evaluate the island's defense capabilities against the threat of attack from China.
The seven-month drills, codenamed "Han Kuang (Han Glory) 20", are scheduled to end in November and would test the joint operations of the armed forces.
Taiwan's defense ministry has previously warned of the possibility of an attack by China unless the island continues to strengthen its defensive power as a deterrent.
The United States has repeatedly urged China and Taiwan to refrain from any provocative actions, and it blasted Beijing in a defense department report last week for developing a variety of "credible military options" to prevent Taiwan from achieving independence.
China Monday blamed Washington's arms sales for the deteriorating state of cross-Strait ties.
"Due to the support and connivance of the United States, Taiwan authorities have gone further down the road toward 'independence' and the United States is responsible for the current worsening situation across the Taiwan Straits," the official Xinhua news agency said.
Or maybe they'll start selling off their US investments and buying chinese. When that happens, we'd better look out!
PING
IMHO, we need to treat China as the Evil Empire they are and similarly to how Reagan treated the Soviets...which ultimately brought them down. It would be painful and costly now becasue of our economic dependences, but not as painful or costly as what is coming.
Oh, just give them Taiwan. They will have no more territorial demands and we'll have peace in our time. They could meet in Munich next Tuesday to ink the contract.
What are they gonna do, dipstick, get Louis Farrakhan to organize the Million Man Swim?
Only if Numbnutz gets elected. China will attempt to take Taiwan.
They've probably had it since at least 1979.
What about a total Boycott of all Chinese Products?
What about it?
China lacks the ability to land enough troops on Taiwan to take the place.
Absent Louis Farrakhan organizing the Million Man Swim, China is going to experience the wrath of the Gods of the Copybook Headings long before they are able to actually invade Taiwan.
"I wonder whose carrier this was aimed at??
China WILL take Taiwan. While we sit back and watch."
I've said it before, and many freepers don't want to hear it: Taking Taiwan is the first step. The U.S. can't do a thing to stop China, not when a great deal of our goods and supplies, (including things needed by our military), are manufactured in China.
But, China will just stop with Taiwan, right?
I wonder whose carrier this was aimed at??
Well, Taiwan doesn't have any, so unless they think India might come to Taiwan's aid, I imagine it would be one of ours.
Maybe this explains the "exercise" we have laid on to put 7 of our 12 (including the one in major overhaul) carriers to sea at the same time?
"Virtually imposable now. Grab any 10 products and I think you will find 8 of them are made in China.
Maybe before Klinton, but not doable now."
Please! Clinton sold secrets, (evil to be sure). But the manufacturing in China and India, the offshore outsourcing... that's what free trade is all about! Right freepers?!
Chickens coming home to roost now.
I agree with you.
China has made it known publicly that it desires to control 98% of the world's manufacturing. After they complete this mission, can you say extreme blackmail?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.