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Landing craft debuts
in Han Kuang beach drill
AMPHIBIOUS FORCE: While 6,000 troops took part
in a beach invasion off Pingtung, reservists defended Tainan, and Hsinchu air
base faced a simulated airborne attack
Staff writer, with CNA
Soldiers conduct an amphibious
landing on a beach in Pingtung County yesterday as part of the annual Han Kuang
military exercises.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-Hsien, Taipei Times
Female paratroopers pose for
photographs after participating in a Han Kuang military exercise at Hsinchu Air
Force Base yesterday.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The military conducted two drills on
beaches in southern Taiwan yesterday, with one of them featuring a newly
deployed locally made landing craft for the first time in an exercise, officials
said.
As part of the annual Han Kuang military exercises, the navy assembled a joint
force, which included marines and soldiers from the air force and the army, to
simulate an amphibious landing in Fangshan Township (ªD¤s), Pintung County.
More than 6,000 troops took part in the drill, with the marines beginning the
operation by clearing underwater obstacles with explosives. After fighter jets
and attack helicopters came in to provide cover from the air, ships and landing
crafts closed in on the shore, dropping off military vehicles to take over the
beach.
According to Captain Chao Yuan-hsun (»¯¤¸¾±), the speedy Ho Yung (¦X¥Ã) utility
landing craft, which was delivered to the navy in October, was being deployed in
a drill for the first time. Meanwhile, in a second drill, more than 700 troops,
mainly reservists, conducted defensive maneuvers against simulated enemy
combatants making an amphibious landing off Greater Tainan.
While 14 CM-11 tanks were deployed in the drill, which was open to the public,
many people watching on the sidelines said they did not get the feel of a
battlefield because no real shots were fired.
Asked about the decision to play the sound of gunfire on speakers instead of
using weapons, military spokesperson Yang Lin-chuan (·¨ªL¤t) said the drill had
achieved its purpose of testing the armed forces.
The issue was also raised by lawmakers from both governing and opposition
parties in the Legislature¡¦s Foreign and National Defense Committee in Taipei
yesterday.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Andrew Yang (·¨©À¯ª) said that firing missiles
or bullets is not the main purpose of the Han Kuang drills, which are more about
examining military strengths and the country¡¦s defense needs.
Separately, at the Hsinchu Air Force Base in northern Taiwan yesterday, an
exercise to test the nation¡¦s anti-paratroop combat readiness was conducted as
part of the Han Kuang military exercises.
More than 200 paratroopers participated in the drill held at the Hsinchu Air
Force Base ¡X the base in Taiwan proper that is closest to China ¡X to act as
opposing Chinese forces, the Ministry of National Defense said.
The drill also incorporated AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, C-130 transport
planes and dozens of advanced weapons to demonstrate Taiwan¡¦s ability to fend
off airborne invaders.
The drill saw more than 1,500 troops mobilized, mainly from the army and the air
force, the ministry said.
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