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TAIWAN-MILITARY-DRILL-US-CHINA-POLITICS
Taiwan military drill repels ‘invasion’ as China tensions rise
TAIPEI, June 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Fighter jets, helicopters and thousands
of troops in Taiwan fought back a simulated Chinese invasion Thursday as the
self-ruled island faces increasing military and diplomatic pressure from
Beijing.
Relations between Taipei and Beijing have deteriorated since President Tsai
Ing-wen was elected in 2016, as her government refuses to acknowledge that
Taiwan is part of “one China”.
Live-fire drills began Monday with troops simulating surprise air and
coastal assaults to reflect increased military threats from China, which sees
Taiwan as a renegade province to be brought back into the fold — by force if
necessary.
Tsai watched Thursday’s session of the ongoing “Han Kuang” (Han Glory)
exercise involving 4,100 soldiers, attack helicopters and fighter jets from
an air base in Taichung.
Thursday’s scenario simulated the enemy bombing of an airfield and a
paratrooper attack, with air and ground troops deployed to take back the
base.
An F-16 fighter flew overhead and deployed flares in a defensive move
against heat-seeking missiles. Special operations troops were seen moving to
secure a building.
“I have seen our troops’ capabilities and I have faith that our troops can
achieve the goal of ‘solid defence and multiple deterrence’,” Tsai said.
China held its own live-fire drills in April in the Taiwan Strait — the
narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland from Taiwan — following
weeks of air and naval manoeuvres in the area.
Beijing has also stepped up diplomatic pressure on Taipei, luring four
countries to switch allegiance from Taiwan to China since Tsai took office.
On Monday, the pilot of an F-16 jet involved in the drills was killed after
crashing into a mountain in northern Taiwan.
The cause of the incident was under investigation.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1230 hrs