22.03.2005, 14:47
:hand: von <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=735614&C=asiapac">http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=735614&C=asiapac</a><!-- m -->
Zitat:Taiwan, Singapore To Hold Joint Military Exercise: Report
Taiwan and Singapore will hold their first joint military exercises in three decades, a move expected to anger China, a report said March 21.
The drill, involving a Taiwan motorized infantry battalion and a Singapore brigade being trained on the island, will be staged in the southern county of Hengchun from late March to early April, the Liberty Times said on its Web site.
Aside from artillery and tanks, Taiwan will mobilize SuperCobra attack helicopters and Singapore will deploy Super Puma helicopters, the report said.
Taiwan’s defense ministry declined to comment on the sensitive report, while China demanded an explanation from Singapore.
“The Chinese side is firmly opposed to countries which have diplomatic relations with China carrying out any type of official or military contact with Taiwan,” the foreign ministry in Beijing said in a statement. “We have requested the relevant country clarify the above report.”
Singapore has been operating three training camps in Taiwan under a military cooperation program known as “Operation Hsing Kuang” (Starlight).
Singapore recognizes Beijing but maintains close links with Taiwan, which sent air force and naval officers to Singapore during the city-state’s early years of independence in 1965. [...]