PLA exercises a new warning to Taiwan
The PLA has held another military exercise to demonstrate its combat prowess and, apparently, warn Taiwan against independence, Xinhua reported yesterday.
The three-day exercise started on Wednesday and was presided over by General Zhang Wannian, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the agency said.
Although the report did not specify where the exercise took place, it indicated the drills were held in Henan province and involved mainly troops under the command of the Jinan Military Region.
Xinhua said General Zhang was accompanied by General Cao Gangchuan, chief of the General Armament Department, and top brass of the Jinan Military Region.
The agency said the CMC vice-chairman reminded the soldiers to step up training and strive to become a 'truly combative force'. Soldiers should 'avoid superficiality and bureaucracy' and focus their energy on 'real issues', General Zhang was quoted as telling troops.
The exercise followed a similar one held near Nanjing about a week ago, witnessed by General Henry Shelton, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Another large-scale exercise, chaired by President Jiang Zemin, was held near Beijing last month. Analysts said the frequency of these exercises was meant to send a warning to Taiwan that China would be ready for war if the island took one wrong step towards independence.
