MND CALLS UP RESERVISTS FOR JULY 7 COASTAL DEFENSE DRILL
Central News Agency
2005-07-05 23:06:00
Taipei, July 5 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has called up more than 5,000 reservists to take part in a coastal defense military drill scheduled for July 7, MND spokesman Rear Adm. Liu Chih-chien said Tuesday.
Young and able-bodied reservists will take part in the operation codenamed "Tunghsin (common heart) No. 17" aimed at practicing combat skills for defending Taiwan's central-western coastal regions in Miaoli and Taichung counties, Liu said.
Thousands of military personnel on active service will also take part in the drill as part of the ongoing Han Kuang No.21 Exercise -- the largest annual combined services drill, which began in May, Liu said.
On that day, China will stage a maritime search and rescue drill off the coast of Shanghai.
Liu said local media should not to speculate about a possible connection between Taiwan's military training drill and China's maritime rescue exercise because the Shanghai drill will be organized by China's maritime safety administration, not the People's Liberation Army.
According to Liu, China has invited maritime safety officials from ASEAN countries to observe the Shanghai drill as part of its efforts to promote international maritime disaster relief cooperation. The drill will focus on practicing personnel rescue, firefighting and pollution control, Liu added.
(By Sofia Wu)
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