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DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES EXERCISE LINKED TO CROSS-STRAIT FLIGHTS

ROC Central News Agency

2006-01-27 15:44:10

    Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Friday categorically denied that the military exercise staged by the Air Force two days earlier was in any way related to the recent launch of Lunar New Year direct cross-strait charter flights.

    The Office of the Military Spokesman said that the "Lien Hsiang" intercept drill to practice countering a surprise aerial attack was scheduled long ago and that it was part of regular military exercises.

    MND officials said the staging of the exercise shortly after the launch of the holiday period cross-strait charter flights was purely coincidental.

    MND officials said that all of the military's exercises are in line with and respect international law and that the military would never stage a mock exercise in which a civilian aircraft was the target of attack.

    The Office of Military spokesman referred to the media reports linking the military exercise to the Lunar New Year cross-strait flights as "not based on fact" and as "misleading to the public."

    Meanwhile, the MND officials said that the defense ministry has kept in close contact with the Mainland Affairs Council and the Civil Aeronautics Administration on matters regarding the direct cross-strait flights.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/Li