Beijing, China, Jul. 7 (UPI) -- China has announced plans to stage a full-scale military rehearsal for the invasion of Taiwan and associated engagements with the United States. Think this is a response to Summer Pulse 04?
The 18,000-man mock landing on the beaches of Dongshan Island will involve amphibious assault craft, Russian-built Sukhoi SU27 fighter jets and submarines operating in the Taiwan Strait to ward off a simulated counterattack by the U.S. Seventh Fleet, The Times of London reported Wednesday.
Dongshan Island is 150 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan and has the same geography and local dialect. The island is inhabited by 1 million people, compared with 22 million on Taiwan, which has a significantly larger landmass.
The announcement also came just days before a two-day Beijing visit by U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice this week. And what do you think the first topic of discussion might be? |