Taiwan's largest ever military exercises simulate Chinese landing

New Patriot-II missiles were used in the exercises and 20,000 men were deployed. President Chen Shui-bian said China "is acting against Taiwan to try to create the foundation of a future invasion".

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Simulating resistance to a massive land invasion, like that executed by the Allies in Normandy in 1944, Taiwan's armed forces have carried out their largest military exercise ever. New Patriot-II missiles, F16 fighters, Cobra helicopters and Knox-class frigates took part in the "Hankuang" ("Chinese Glory") manoeuvres that showed Taiwan's ability to oppose an invasion from China facing it just 160 kilometres to the west.

At the end of the manoeuvres, congratulating the armed forces, President Chen Shui-bian, said: "For the first time, Taiwan has shown the deployment of its Patriot-II missiles and we have made good progress in integrating our reserves into our regular forces." Military sources said 13,000 soldiers of the army, navy and air force took part in the exercise, together with 7,000 reserves.

The Taiwanese president warned: "China is acting against Taiwan to try to create the foundation of a future invasion." And the military exercise simulated a Chinese invasion.

The exercise began with two Patriot-II missiles taking off to intercept two "Chinese" missiles. F-16 fighters attacked "Chinese" ships, helped by Knox-class frigates and Cobra helicopters.

Colonel Yu Chung-ji said the exercise was a simulation of an attempted, large-scale Chinese landing. However, he added, should China decide to attack Taiwan, it may decide to resort to the so-called decapitation strategy, consisting of commando attacks and targeted bombings against the leaders of the island and its key institutions. "Personally, I think it is more likely they will choose the decapitation option," he said.

• taiwan
• china
• manoeuvres
• military
• exercises
• invasion
• landing
• decapitation
• strategy