PLA misfires over drill target resembling Taiwan presidential office
Footage aired on China Central Television could backfire on cross-strait relations: analysts
A decision to launch a live-fire PLA drill on a structure resembling Taiwan's presidential office could backfire on cross-strait ties, political and military analysts warned on Wednesday.
In footage aired on China Central Television on July 5, People's Liberation Army soldiers taking part in the "Trans-2015" drill at the army's Zhurihe training base in Inner Mongolia were seen attacking a structure similar to Taiwan's presidential office in Taipei.
Analysts said the drill was meant as a political warning to the island, signalling Beijing's unwillingness to give up using force or coercive means to "liberate Taiwan".
"Such a move will not help the benign interaction and future development of the cross-strait relationship, especially with the island's presidential election coming up early next year, and poll results showing the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in the lead," Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said.