Military defends decision not to hold live fire exercises
ROC Central News Agency
2012/04/17 21:08:14
Taipei, April 17 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday again defended its decision not to include live-fire drills in the annual Han Kuang exercises this year, saying such war games do not necessarily have to involve the use of live ammunition.
It is a misconception that "the Han Kuang exercises equal live-fire ammunition drills," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said in response to criticisms of the decision not to hold live-fire drills during the series of exercises that started Monday.
Since 2008, the ministry has excluded live ammunition from the Han Kuang war games, Luo said at a news conference, adding that this was a decision made after thorough evaluation.
Many factors such as regional safety and traffic control in air and maritime spaces must be taken into account in arranging live-fire drills, the ministry said.
The exclusion of live-ammunition was also aimed at encouraging participating military personnel to focus more intently on the drills, the ministry said.
Although they are not part of the Han Kuang exercises, live-fire drills have been staged in other war games this year, Luo said.
Meanwhile, President Ma Ying-jeou's absence during the Han Kuang exercises -- Taiwan's most important war games involving the three armed services -- has also sparked criticism in the media and among opposition party legislators.
Ma is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on Wednesday after wrapping up a 12-day trip to three of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Africa -- Burkina Faso, The Gambia and Swaziland.
Upon his return, Ma is likely to make an inspection tour of the round-the-clock military exercises that will run through April 20, according to military officials.
The Han Kuang exercises involve more than 200,000 military personnel practising innovative, asymmetrical tactics against simulated attacking Chinese forces.
(By Elaine Hou)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
