President to inspect live-fire military exercises
ROC Central News Agency
2012/06/04 15:19:15
Taipei, June 4 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou will make an inspection tour of a live-fire joint-forces exercise scheduled for later this week in southern Taiwan, a defense official confirmed Monday.
The inspection is part of the president's efforts to show support for the military ahead of this year's Dragon Boat Festival, a major national holiday, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he said.
The drill, to be held June 7 at a military training base in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, will involve the Army, Air Force and Navy, according to the ministry.
The live-fire drill will include anti-tank missiles, the ministry said.
The drill will be held after Taiwan's annual Han Kuang series of military exercises held April 16-20, during which Ma came under fire because he was absent at the start of the exercises and was accused by the opposition of neglecting national defense.
However, the president was on a 12-day visit to three of Taiwan's African allies at the time.
Shortly after his return from Africa April 18, Ma visited a command center in Taipei and watched a drill of military relocation in northern Taiwan on the final day of the Han Kuang exercises.
The ministry was also slammed during the Han Kuang war games, as live-fire drills were not included in the country's most important military exercises.
In response to the opposition's criticism, the ministry pointed out that the Han Kuang exercises are held to test the effectiveness of military personnel in carrying out war plans in the event of attack.
Since 2008, the ministry has excluded live ammunition from the Han Kuang war games. Live-fire drills are staged, however, in other exercises throughout the year, the ministry noted.
(By Elaine Hou)
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