Chinese army exercises part of military move

Chinese army exercises part of military move

TAIPEI (AFP): Taiwan said stepped-up Chinese military exercises were aimed at cranking up psychological pressure on Taipei and urged its population not to panic over escalating tensions on Wednesday.

Lin Chon-pin, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) which formulates the island's China policy, said the exercises were the result of Chinese research.

"They have conducted in-depth research on psychological warfare," warned Lin.

"What we have seen right now is part of the practice stemming from their research efforts," said Lin.

The comment came a day after defense ministry spokesman Kung Fan-ding told reporters PLA's home-made B-6 bombers and fighters had been involved in "training exercises" which appeared to be a prelude to wargames.

"Their navy also launched training programs in the waters off the eastern province of Zhejiang and from there to the Diaoyu islands," Kung said.

China said the PLA exercises were "normal," but reiterated its warning that any move by Taiwan towards independence would mean war.

"As far as military exercises carried out by the People's Liberation Army, this is normal and is aimed at enhancing the capability of the Chinese military," foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said.

Taiwan's Defense Vice Minister Sun Tao-yu said Beijing could not possibly invade the island without an excuse.

"President-elect Chen Shui-bian has demonstrated his utmost sincerity and goodwill. Under the circumstances the odds of clashes are low," Sun said.

"The information available, including the scale of possible exercises, suggests there is not any sign of a military clash," he said.

At a meeting with Chen, former premier Hau Pei-tsun, who served as the island's chief of General Staff from 1981-89, shrugged off China's intensified training.

"I don't think (the drills) would pose a threat to Taiwan," Hau said.

"If the Chinese communists want to bomb Taiwan, do you think they would really use B-6 bombers to attack Taiwan?" he asked. Local military analysts here said the outdated B-6 bombers would not survive Taiwan's air defense systems.

The MAC's Lin also cast doubt over the possibility of a Chinese invasion for the moment as Beijing is still not sure if Washington would step in. The U.S. has repeatedly said the Taipei-Beijing disputes must be solved on their own.

Washington sent two battle carrier groups to waters near Taiwan in an apparent gesture to stop Beijing's saber-rattling when the PLA lobbed ballistic missiles into the shipping lanes off Taiwan in 1996 to intimidate Taiwanese voters ahead of their first direct presidential polls.

Since his stunning victory, Chen has pledged to abide by China's so-called "Four No's" -- not to declare independence, not to constitutionalize a "two-states theory," not to change the island's name from the Republic of China, and not to hold a plebiscite on its national status.

Chen also said last Thursday he would neither abolish nor amend the island's 1991 reunification guidelines on settling the decades-old sovereignty dispute.

Last Friday he said he was open to the idea of a confederation -- the first time he has discussed a concrete model for reunification.

Yet Chen has rejected Beijing's call to recognize "One China," saying the term is open to interpretation, and that he cannot engage in a dialog while the mainland holds fast to its definition.

Sun told the public not to panic over the reports, saying Taiwan's military would keep a close eye on any PLA movements. Triggered by the reports, Taiwan share prices plummeted 4.3 percent on Wednesday to finish at 8,535.96 as investors dumped shares for fear the stalemate might turn worse despite repeated olive branches Chen delivered to Beijing.