Agence France-Presse,
Taipei: Taiwan is to showcase its military strength by using live-fire exercises to test the island's defence capabilities against rival China, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The five-day drills codenamed “Han Kuang (Han Glory) 23,” will be staged in the region's islands beginning Monday, and form the second part of the biggest exercises in the year.
“All the forces will be involved…in the Ilan war games, various weapons and missiles are due to be mobilised,” defense ministry spokesman Major General Wu Chi-fang told AFP, adding that about 25,000 reservists will also be used.
China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should the island declare formal independence.
A computerised drill last month showed the island was vulnerable to air attack from its dominant neighbour, the defence ministry said.
In that operation, a simulated ballistic missile attack “launched” at Taiwan's military command, missile bases, radar stations and airports, caused grave damage to radar systems and airports due to poor anti-missile defences.
Next Tuesday morning, a section of road in central Changhua county will close to test the air force's ability to use freeways for emergency air landings and logistics operations.
A similar test was held in July 2004, when two French-made Mirage 2000-5 fighters landed in southern Taiwan.
Also next Tuesday, Taiwanese troops will review their defences on the Penghu island in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, simulating a surprise attack by Chinese aviators trying to capture the military airport, the defense ministry said.
In the Ilan drill planned for Wednesday, Taiwanese forces will display their ability to intercept a mock enemy approach on the northeastern part of the island, the ministry said.
Cross-strait tensions have increased since Chen Shui-bian, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the presidency in 2000, ending the China-focused Kuomintang party's 51-year grip on power.
