Reply #2: Military holds live fire drill ahead of China's wargames

[Minstrel Boy]

2004-06-04 / Agence France-Presse /

Taiwan staged a live fire military drill ahead of large-scale war games to be held by rival China, officials said yesterday.

TV footage showed artillery units firing at mock enemies trying to land on the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait.

Arch foe China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should Taipei's government ever declare formal independence.

...

The exercise came after the Beijing-based New Express Daily said China was gearing up for large-scale military war games aimed at "taking control of the Taiwan Strait", with 18,000 troops and the amphibious landing of tanks.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/06/04/1086316039.htm

The Pentagon recommends Taiwan bomb China's three gorges dam, the Chinese are simulating a wargame to take the Taiwan Strait, Russia is conducting an "unprecedented" deployment of European forces to its Far East, and at least seven of the ten US carrier groups now at sea are heading to the Western Pacific. (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1753441)

We oughta be paying attention.