http://www.boston.com/dailynews/151/world/China_s_army_practices_taking_:.shtml

China's army practices taking Taiwanese island, attacking carrier

By Associated Press, 5/31/2001 23:56

BEIJING (AP) In one of its largest military exercises ever, China's army will practice capturing an outlying Taiwanese island and attacking an aircraft carrier, a state-run newspaper said Friday.

The exercises, involving land, sea and air forces, begin this month on and around Dongshan Island, off China's southeastern coast in the straits that separate China and Taiwan, the Beijing Morning Post said.

The maneuvers will be China's first large-scale war games since the election of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian last May, the newspaper said. It said the combined exercises are one of the largest ever conducted by China's 2.5-million member People's Liberation Army, the world's biggest fighting force.

''The main military targets of these exercises will be attacking and occupying an outlying Taiwanese island and attacking an aircraft carrier,'' the newspaper said.

The exercises ''demonstrate the Chinese government's determination to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' it said.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory. China has repeatedly threatened to attack Taiwan if its government indefinitely rebuffs Beijing's demands for talks on unification or if it declares outright independence.

The Beijing Morning Post said forces taking part in the exercises will include missile units, amphibious tanks, submarines, warships, marine soldiers and Russian-made Su-27 aircraft among the most modern and potent weapons in China's growing arsenal.

Nearly 10,000 troops have been taking up position on Dongshan Island since mid-May, the newspaper said, quoting a report in a pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper.

''Dongshan Island is now full of all types of Liberation Army units. Troops that have reached the site of the exercises are intensifying training in order to prepare for the big maneuvers,'' the newspaper said.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001