20130710 Military to simulate Chinese invasion in further exercises

Military to simulate Chinese invasion in further exercises

By Rich Chang / Staff reporter

The nation’s armed forces are to hold a five-day computer-aided war game from Monday to Friday next week, simulating a Chinese attack in 2017.

Assistant deputy chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning Tseng Fu-hsin (曾復興) told a press conference that the computerized drills, the second part of the annual Han Kuang exercises, are aimed at testing the military’s combat readiness in the event of a full attack by Chinese forces in 2017.

The drills are to simulate an attempt by Chinese forces to invade Taiwan, including missile attacks and the landing of combat troops. Information exchange capabilities and use of electronic warfare would also be included in the computerized war games, Tseng said.

The general added that Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) would be chief judge at the drill, while attacking forces will be played by the National Defense University, and defensive forces played by the command team of the general staff.

Chief of General Staff General Yen Ming (嚴明) is to supervise the round-the-clock drills, Tseng added.

Tseng did not confirm media reports saying that the drills would simulate an attack involving China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.

The five-day exercise, which involves the army, navy and air force, follows another drill held in late April, which also simulated an attack by China.