Posted on 07/07/2004 7:55:22 PM PDT by Flavius
China to rehearse Taiwan 'invasion' By Oliver August July 08, 2004
CHINESE soldiers will for the first time practise a D-Day style invasion of Taiwan on a densely populated island off the mainland coast this month.
The 18,000-man mock landing on the beaches of Dongshan Island is to involve amphibious assault craft, Russian-built fighter jets and submarines operating in the Taiwan Strait to ward off a simulated counter-attack by the US Seventh Fleet.
Reports of the exercise were greeted with thousands of supportive messages yesterday in mainland internet chatrooms, a sign of the immense popularity of Beijing's policy of striving for the eventual return of Taiwan.
One said: "Taking back Taiwan by force is only a matter of time. We don't have to be afraid of the US. China is never afraid of a paper tiger."
Another wrote: "It seems there is a common understanding among people in every chatroom: we should recapture Taiwan by force."
Dongshan Island is 240km from the southern tip of Taiwan and has the same geography and local dialect. The island is inhabited by a million people, compared with 22 million on Taiwan, which has a significantly larger land mass.
The mock invasion will be the first exercise aimed at "taking control of the Taiwan Strait", according to a Shanghai newspaper.
"Sukhoi SU27 fighter jets will be outfitted with guided air-to-surface missiles to ensure tank brigades can make a landing and engage in warfare," the New Express Daily reported.
The military exercise comes at a time of high tension across the Taiwan Strait after the re-election of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, who is intensely disliked by Beijing for his pro-independence stand.
Regional security concerns will top the agenda when US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice visits Beijing this week between trips to Tokyo and Seoul.
She will have two days of talks with China's leaders - the first high-level consultation since a North Korea summit in Beijing last month and a visit to the Pentagon by Taiwanese arms buyers.
China is concerned that Mr Chen is moving further towards declaring independence - a step that would probably trigger a Chinese military response, possibly a naval blockade.
However, few analysts believe the People's Liberation Army is capable of getting a full-scale armada across the Taiwan Strait.
The Times
"US to rehearse total annihilation of the Chinese Mainland"
well the the Starsky and Hotch tover there we may surrender to France first
wow i destroyed that pretty badly
well with the starsky and hotch over there, we may surrender to France first
One said: "Taking back Taiwan by force is only a matter of time. We don't have to be afraid of the US. China is never afraid of a paper tiger."
Thank you, Bill Clinton.
=== SPIN
no kidding, we should boycott all Chinese products. This whole thing is such nonsense. Why, with the great size of China, are they concerned about a small free country like Tiawan? Jack arses is the only thing that comes to mind.
With the military itself stating that the active duty and reserve forces are already stretched to thin, could you imagine a third front opening up for our troops?
Save the troops a trip and press the big red candy like button . . Boom.
Here's a nightmare scenario: under Peak Easy, if certain countries are taken off the market for oil, the remaining countries will have more access to cheap oil. If Taiwan is shut down, China will have more oil available. If S Kor is shut down, China will have more oil available. If Japan is shut down, China will have more oil available. If the US is shut down, China will have more oil available. How does it sound so far?
They are all dressed up and have shiny new toys... and they have not had a go with their tanks apart from last time...
WHen they bulldozed some people ... just for fatherland all that
Their uniforms do look stylish, don't they.
Given China's hollow promises regarding Hong Kong (China dictating that "opposing political parties (democracy) is not an option", Taiwan should declare themselves independent and bring this to bear before the Chinese are ready, and while the 7th Fleet is on station.
Now the Dragon begins to flex his muscles. And who will dare to make war with the Dragon?
If you want on or off my offshoring ping list, please FReepmail me!
Ping
I agree with a prior poster - let's do a little unilteral disarmament with China. A few Trident subs worth ought to be a great start. Plus all of the nukes on board all of the support vessels for those 7 carrier battle groups in the South China Sea.
Paper tiger my @ss, ChiCom.
Well, I sure doubt it will be the republicrats or the dems who fed/feed it, including the current one.
But...but...I thought China was our trading partner?
Question 1: Will they attack Taiwan only after they have everything they need from us? (hijacked factories, stolen/legally obtained technology, enemy agents in the US, etc.)
Question 2: Is the "Taiwan thing" a bargaining chip, like The Soviet threats on Western Europe?
I have a great coastal defense idea: line the entire shore with metal storm cannons. They could shoot down missiles, take out planes, and red-mist amphibious troops quite easily, I imagine.
Why cant two air carriers strike forces circle Taiwan and two around Russia. Sink or block all ships and trade to the west or North American/US. Take all US Treasury bonds and equity. If yes they will stop, if not you will have an idiot pushing a button and cackling, mouth open and bottle head action.
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