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DEFENSE MINISTRY RETRACES PLA'S MANEUVERS OF 1995 AND 1996

ROC Central News Agency

2006-03-07 19:05:02

    Taipei, March 7 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) Tuesday retraced the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) seven military maneuvers between 1995 and 1996 ahead of Taiwan's first-ever direct presidential election to intimidate Taiwan voters, which were commonly known as the Taiwan Strait crisis.

    According to the MND, the first of the seven operations was between July 21 and 28 in 1995, when the PLA test-fired six Dongfeng-15 ballistic missiles in China's Jiangxi Province.

    The second was a maritime drill between Aug. 15 and 25 the same year.

    The third, in 1995, was intended as a display of military prowess from Sept. 15 to Oct. 20, involving 81 warships and 610 sorties. The fourth was a simulated amphibious attack carried out between Oct. 31 and Nov. 23, and also in 1995; their exact location was undisclosed.

    During the fifth drill, four Dongfeng-15 ballistic missiles were fired across the Taiwan Strait between March 8 and 15 in 1996.

    Three fell in the open seas off the southern city of Kaohsiung and one near Keelung Harbor. The missile firings ahead of Taiwan's March 18 presidential election led to the U.S. dispatch of two aircraft carrier battle groups into the waters near the Taiwan Strait.

    The sixth operation was a tactical maneuver involving joint air and sea forces with live rounds, missiles and artillery March 12 to 20. The seventh simulated a combined assault of amphibious attacks,

    airborne assaults and mountain warfare that took place between

    March 18 and 25, both in 1996.

    The MND also disclosed the placement of a ballistic missile command in China's Jiangxi Province, where more than 140 Dongfeng-15 ballistic missiles are stationed. The MND said it is the Second Artillery unit with the most combat experience.

    The MND said it had no political motivations regarding the release of such information on the 10th anniversary of the Taiwan Strait missile crisis of 1996.

(By Taijing Wu)

ENDITEM/diG