Taiwan simulates destroying an invading Chinese force in coastal drill
Coastal Defense Drill and Military Preparedness
By Angie Teo and David Lague
Simulated Amphibious Assault and Combat Realism
TAICHUNG, Taiwan, June 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan's military simulated destroying an invading Chinese force in a coastal exercise on Tuesday, firing off rockets and artillery to stop an amphibious assault in what it described as a more realistic combat scenario with less preparation time.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijing's control, and its warplanes and warships operate almost daily around the island.
The beaches and mud flats on Taiwan's west coast, directly facing China across the Taiwan Strait, are seen as the most likely location for an attempted landing by the Chinese military in the event of any invasion.
The drill was conducted simultaneously from eight positions across a 20 km (12 miles) stretch of coast around Taichung in central Taiwan.
Modernization and Training Adjustments
Taiwan's government is modernising its armed forces, adding new and more mobile weapons but also making its training less predictable and more like the situation troops would face in actual combat.
Artillery commander Ong Yih-ming told reporters the drills were no longer about set-piece manoeuvres.
Changes in Artillery Training
"What is different about this training compared with the past is that we are no longer conducting heavy artillery firing in a fixed, routine formation as before," he said.
"The timing for entering positions this time was based on realistic combat conditions. So I believe this training posed a considerable level of difficulty for our troops."
The drill used domestically developed, truck-mounted Thunderbolt-2000 rocket systems, U.S.-made Paladin howitzers, anti-tank missiles, artillery and mortars to establish a "kill zone" to stop an amphibious assault.
Deployment of Mobile Rocket Systems
MOBILE ROCKET SYSTEM
Thunderbolt-2000 Live-Fire Exercise
The military said this was the first time in seven years the Thunderbolt-2000 had conducted live-fire shooting in an operational area, a system developed for its long-range suppression capability and high mobility.
Preparation and Execution Differences
"What was different this time compared with the past is that previously, we would usually enter the position one week in advance and complete firing preparations," said rocket commander Liao Neng-cheng.
"This time, however, we arrived at the position only one day before and carried out the relevant position preparations. So our preparation time was relatively tight."
Political and Strategic Context
Taiwan's Stance on Sovereignty
Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Taiwan has complained over the past month of stepped up Chinese coast guard missions around its coast, including off its east and around the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea,.
Statements from Taiwan Officials
"The one trying to change the status quo is the Chinese Communist Party," Taiwan's top China policy maker Chiu Chui-cheng told Taiwan media outlet CNews on Tuesday in an interview.
"We will use strength and sufficient deterrent capability to prevent the Chinese communists from changing the status quo by force," said Chiu, who is head of the Mainland Affairs Council.
China's Response
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China refuses to talk to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist".
(Reporting by Angie Teo and David Lague; Additional reporting and writing by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
