CEP0034 [07/14/99 21:56:39] CEP0025 [07/14/99 20:23:22] DM5K6702.
CEP-->BEAR
07-14-99
DEFENSE OFFICIALS DENY MAINLAND CHINA AIR INTRUSION
Taipei, July 14 (CNA) Officials from the Defense Ministry and air
force headquarters on Wednesday denied news reports that mainland
Chinese fighter jets have been crossing the mid-line of the Taiwan
Strait, intruding into Taiwan's airspace.
The alleged incidents have occurred amid local media reports that
President Lee Teng-hui' redefinition of cross-strait ties as "special
state-to-state relations" has drawn a drastic response from Beijing,
which has intensified its verbal attack on Lee and Taiwan.
The reports said Beijing's Political Bureau has decided not to
hold military exercises in the immediate future to menace Taiwan as
it did in the run-up to the island's first popular presidential
election in 1996.
However, the reports also said that J-7 fighters from the
mainland have recently increased their patrol missions and
occasionally intrude into Taiwan's airspace. As a result, the reports
went on, Taiwan's fighters have had to scramble to intercept the
invading aircraft.
Air force officials said that the armed forces have been closely
monitoring the activities of mainland combat aircraft based in its
the southeastern provinces, and have reported more take-offs than
usual.
The officials said that the coming few months are traditionally
the peak season for People's Liberation Army (PLA) war games.
They added that it remains to be seen whether the mainland
fighters' increased activities are either in preparation for a
military parade to celebrate National Day on Oct. 1 and the 50th
anniversary of the PLA, or the start of another round of military
menace against Taiwan
However, Defense Ministry officials dismissed the news reports as
groundless, and accused the reporters who spread the information of
trying to undermine social stability.
(By Bear Lee)
ENDITEM/J
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